or bur

e sudden intrusion before she was me

t scent of last night's decisions still clinging to her skin. Across from her, Charles

entrance-

mi

ok in the scene. Behind him, a cluster of figures loomed,

he Wallington

mary, was the first

all the rage of a woman scorned. "How dare you humilia

nto her palms, but

ook weak in fron

yourself! Running off on your wedding night and throwing yourself at-" She gest

l anyone calling Nathaniel shameless when he decided

asp rippled th

jaw tighte

in, her voice sharp. "You lost

lders, shaking her head. "This scandal is already sp

wed her eye

before she turned to Nathaniel. "There's only

m fell

breath catch

ab

stepsist

his fists clenching

mage has been done. The media is already speculating about your breakup, and

ffed. The

y to secure another marriage

spond, an authoritative v

l not be

in the corner-the head of the Wallin

presence alone c

o the man a handful of times, but she knew

r the room before

ce firm. "You will

breath

h

e, finally moved. He leaned forward, resting

odded. "You w

ed silence fi

ward. "Grandfather, y

ing glare. "You had your c

e darkened and

arry Charles? She had daringly climbed his bed with the int

s she spent the night with you, Charles. The scandal is out, and if

could she let the other woman's daughter marry into t

felt dry. "And

"Then be prepared to watch your family fall." Y

stil

derstand these things. She doesn't want to get married and we c

before casting a co

wanted, they could destroy the Tho

felt t

, Charle

m, but laced with

pped toward

mirk barely visible. "

pounded in

ike th

val. "Good. The wedding

he and her daughter were invisible in the room. She hurried out dragging Anabel wi

Mrs. Charles Walling

e felt the weight of her

ice low and seething. "You think you've won, don't you?"

efuse to lose." she sneered, not wanting to ask about the pros

could say anything else, Charl

to be, , his gaze locking

amming the door behind him. His cousin surely knows how to r

le

a deep brea

walking dow

o a man she's ch

een her and Charles as

ully quiet,

him with a smirk. "Just thinking ab

ser. "You have a habit of gett

And you have a habit

d across his lips.

e could stop herself, she reached out-her fing

s smirk

round?" s

loser, his voice a low murmur again

shiv

moans, then his heavy breathing, and then-noth

she would

ent... she w

pson fam

ld have acted like a proper lady and remain