a P

her face pale, tried to bluff her way through. "Your mother's things

el I carried and produced a rolled-up piece of parchment, tied with a faded blue r

every last item: jewels with specified weights and cuts, deeds to properties in the city, ownership papers for a handful of profitable merc

ace before she could hide it. Over the years, she had treated my mother's dowry as her own perso

it, his face growing darker with every line. "This is nonse

we have to do is send for the keeper of the vault

h," I mused, tapping a finger on my chin, "if items were to be found... missing..

stealing from a dead wife's legacy to her only daughter. I wonder how such a s

ide and joy. She was on the verge of a major match with another powerful

akest point, and I presse

issed, rising to her feet, her m

ou have two choices. You can return what is mine, and we can all pretend this ugly busin

imatum, and w

oor. But he was, above all else, a pragmatist. He understood the stakes. Liana's

nom at his wife. A look t

lent exchange, k

re. "I want their value in cash. After all, I'm sure some of the more... d

a slap in the face that

t a single, glacial look from her husband

ision was made. "Fine," he bit out, the word tas

full value of everything on this lis

with hatred. "But after that, you are no

I had been waiting

id with a slight, formal bow. I rolled up

ne last thing. The funds are to be delivered to the Burke estate. Directly

oman who had tormented me for years would be forced to come to my n

eply into her palms that

nce, leaving behind the ruins of a family and t