ged. She clenched her fists, her nails cutting into her palms, using the pain to remind herself s

t imperceptible smile touching his

t building. Just then, his phone buzzed. He glanced

Cailin, his voice once

, slamming the door and running int

d fade into the distance. She slid down against the door, buried her face in her knees, and stayed there for a long time.

all from his assistant, Nash Hayes. "Sir,

background investigation on

rding Ms. Blair Sterling a

mily. The engagement is off. Have Augustus ha

and close

s in Europe, but not before instructin

g Island, Augustus Shepherd, old but with a mind as sharp a

mpt and included the preliminary file on the wait

e Sterling family's audacity. Then,

ail. During the physical altercation, Mr. Graham had show

t of Graham's haphephobia. He stared at the grainy security sti

the family's lawyer and

s ties with the Sterlings.

oto, "investigate this girl, Cailin Hunter. I want

he possibility of a long-he

th, or connections. He cared about only one thing-his grandson could touch her. For Augustus, eage

ed an old friend, a senior offi

rriage license. The gro

. "But, sir, we don't eve

es in Cailin's photograph and all

said slowly. "Th

s girl from the slums woul