ck her path. It was Robert Schmitt, her father, his face a mask of thunderous rage

ced a sycophantic smile, his voice slick with false bonhomie. "Frederic

ne's retreating back, his jaw tight. He d

fury. He whirled on Eveline. "Eveline, stop this foolish

her like a piece of livestock to save his failing company. His aut

of frustration, Robert slammed the folder onto a nearby marble-t

," he bellowed, his voice shaki

letters: DEED OF RENUNCIATION. It was a legal contract severing all ties, d

ver wanted was their approval, a sense of belonging in

bed her arm. "Sister, don't be impulsive. Dad's just angry

tten? When Schmitt Industries was on the verge of filing for bankruptcy, who was it that went crawling t

e of the room. The carefully buried tru

The story of his near-failure was a source of de

of concern cracking. She never ex

ble, picked up the gold-plated fountain pen lying beside the documen

ne Wo

and confident, the str

at had backfired spectacularly. They had handed

ds Robert. "As you wish. From this moment on,

. This time, it was Frede

couldn't name, a flicker of unease. Her absolute resolve was something he had never se

round him, as if he were a piece of furni

t enough for him to hear her, he

igning paper

from her small evening bag. She dialed a numbe

aid, her voice low and

n Woodard, her adoptive brother,

yes in this ballroom, her plan

e fresh night air as she stepped out of the suf