a P

his cheek a testament to his public humiliation. I followed in my h

on, and my stepmother, Eleonora, were waiting for me. They sat side-by-side on a larg

re not prepared for the woman who walked in. I had used Liam's money to purchase a simple but elegant travel

ide him. "You finally decide to show your face! Do you h

e of wounded maternal love. "Oh, Anja, my dear child. What cou

vacant armchair, sat down, and poured myself a cu

as a declaration of defian

ve you permission

"Father," I said, my voice calm and even. "When I was Anja Vinso

shed a dark,

hard as a diamond, "I am Mrs. Burke. According to the protocols of nobilit

had turned their own rigid r

ing with concern. "We were worried for you, Anja. Your sister Dahlia was terri

bastard who climbs into her sister's marriage bed?

bare, right there in

ge more for the exposure of his own affair th

g with his. "You know the truth of it. Just as you

s abruptly, keepin

arefully constructed composure cracked. A

e room. "On my wedding night, my husband was sleeping with

ts. Instead of demanding justice for me, you

son standard of honor? Or is a daughter's dignity something

ed directly at their most vulnerable p

iculated his craven motivations pe

u speaking to me now as the head of House Vinson, or as a

an, I am no longer under your complete authority. If it is the latter, I suggest you get your o

nswer he gave would be a

their faces a mixture of shock and dawning horror. They were looking at their daught