lining them? They don't not even worth a moment of my t

authority and offer an immediate apology, were stunned. Th

ye on your staff. Those small trinkets you misplace are not just slipping th

iercing stare sweeping over the ma

lyn turned and glided upstair

accusation, stopped her. "Are you so bitte

d him to whispers of their marital st

the rumors, but the flood of lea

ndifference. "I have far better things to do than spread

villa than her phone buzzed. It was

had no desire to return to the Clarks' place, she saw it as

ade her way to the

e saw her father, Roger Clark, her mother, Sharon, her brother Connor, and the ever-dr

you been spreading? Trying to stir up trouble, are you? Rebecca and her husband are having a problem

household with an iron fi

laugh. "I didn't come to apologize," she said smoothly. "I'm here to declare that th

ha

ace flushed with shock, while

. Do you know how much we've spent on you since we took you back? Now you want to cut ti

elyn's laugh was sh

ighteen, a mere five years ago. Now they asked for

tone dripping with feigned concern, though her eyes gleamed

, glaring at Madelyn. "If she wants to go, let he

Sharon began, her voice quivering. "I carr

elyn cut in, her tone as cold as steel. "

ed Madelyn's heart from the Clark family, th

indifference but schemed to wring every oun

lyn declared, a serene sm

ve five million? Where on earth

ease," Madelyn

ever ties, but Roger's swift agreement caught her

rage room tucked at the end of the first fl

eady as she began, "The day you brought me back, you threw a welcome-back party at B

ettled when the Clark

d a trace of unease

dger from the very day she ca

, the gas bill, the chef's wages, even the utili

s, "my tuition was waived due to my academic excellence. You provided

Jason arranged for the wedding somehow found their way into your hands. So, the

's final page, her finger rest

l 49, 822.53. Let's round it to an even 50,