. His ability to flawlessly manage his facial expressions was his greatest survival skill in the cutthroat Davenport househo

is carefully constructed facade. His eyes darted over her face, silently begging

she leaned forward slightly, her gaze bypassing her father and the Davenport elders, and tilt

ul

ominent Adam's apple bobbed once against the crisp colla

her voice perfectly pitched to sound bewilde

ply, looking at her youngest son. "

le. His gaze was heavy, carrying an invisible, crushing pressure. It

absolute respect. "Given the paramount importance of this marriage contract, I used my own name to test the ink flow first. The st

ity. His bespoke shirts were always buttoned to the very top, his ties perfectly knotted. He was respectful to his elders, strictly impartial to

ree

ed hardwood floor. J. C. stood up abruptly,

ched inside. He pulled out the remaining three silver balls a

Zachar

mes was smooth and flawless. The slip with Kane's name indeed showed a slight, j

es wide with forced concern. "Arthur, sir? The age limit..."

taking another slow sip of water, completely unbothered by the chaos h

" Arthur asked, his voice

parents had taken it to heart, and because they had remembered it for so long, it carried immense, almost

asked, staring at her intensely, his voice

expression, her mind racing. J. C. wasn't worried she would refuse a redraw; he was arrogantly confident he owned her heart. He w

and resolute. "Mom always used to say that when it

of his late wife. "Your mother was right. Since Kane's name ended up i

nport elders. "Cornelius,

ers were still overseen by the elders. And secretly, they had always desperately

l match!" the elders agreed enthusiasticall

et out a long br

men. But Kane? He remained single well into his forties. No scandals, no rumors, no messy entanglements. He w

he couldn't forget. Since he never married her, she was likely either dead or

then looked up, meeting Kane's d

y eyes. Was he reluctant? Annoyed? Aurore thought to herself that