rode in, his expression unreadable

ith disdain, her gaze flicking toward Cressida

u?" He asked, and Cedrissa couldn'

ect I'd be in su

fact that he never acknowledged Cressida's place in the family sa

just want to say there's nothing to do than accept your f

"your mother". Linet was a stranger to maternal warmth, her presence i

u to leave the city, b

nto Hollis, the single w

married in a few weeks." Hi

ge?' She exclaimed in silence, her mind hav

She whispered, her brow furrowed in confusion. Hollis's nod was a silen

was being sold, traded, or worse. The thought sent a c

's going on

in her mind, but her lips trembled, hesitant to betray her true feelings. The words r

eep getting wo

ng his face. "You've always wanted to know where Carson i

son's in hiding," he revealed. "He took out a loan for an i

um

s been adamant about staying on the right side of the law but Hollis's words made a little sense. The Palmers

umph. "Why not Havyn then?" She ask

ld calculation, "Because you're Carson's favorite and it's only fai

ripping with scorn. "Besides, you're a divor

's expression remained defiant,

reed, but Cressida didn'

-he seemed to be slowing the conversation rather

ing Carson's chance. He'll keep runnin

oice stammered, and L

siest alternative," Linet declared. She looked straight

if he ever finds out you had a chance to save him but didn't take it," Li

ll b

Cedrissa's brain process the en

is life in regret, do you?" Linet threw a qu

N

ional state-Cedrissa's expression showed h

the city tomorrow. If you accept, let

is's hand, making

ars streamed down her face. Some of the tears followed her facial line t

should

start afresh or taking the chance to save Carson-marry

ly as she lay on the bed, her head r

save C

ve a family she'd fully belong to. However, she could

mind, making her forehead

ungry for power. This is their

they take the chance to let Havyn

*

days

y through the city streets. Doubts swirled in he

I gotten my

d sweat break out on her palms, and her breath caught in her throat. With a shaky

u've got to save Carson–

riveway, lined with towering trees and precision-manicured hedges, unfo

oor, his smile warm and we

lanked by perfectly placed candelabras and lush greenery. At the entrance, t

led Cressida to the lounge and nodd

her voice barely abo

ed with courtesy. "May

smile. "No, I'm

e know." Elizabeth said, her smile unwavering, and with a gentle

ut she hesitated, unsure what to ask or how to phrase it. With a quiet sigh, s

he be here

t below the surface. She checked her phone for what felt like the hun

lizabeth's evasive response only fueled her unease-it was as if they were

e ever

ome,

ned, a warm smile plastered on her face. However, her ey

vanished as her eyes wi

ari

an't be

hought echoed in her

appened

s ago with no news about his existence. He used to be the charismatic heir the public

owed in a scowl-only his piercing blue eyes, round face, and straigh

to Alaric, her thoughts sha

voice laced with challenge. His piercing blue eyes

a struggled to find a response that wouldn't get him angry.

'd be expecting the charming him, not the man before her, so he wanted to take the

She was trapped, but Alaric wasn't interested in hea

tly, his fingers flying across the scree

ning with indignation. "You think I'd be b

with challenge. "Everyone has a price," he said, his tone

ing with a mix of anger and hurt. Her sudden leap to her feet sent the cha

t because I want to!" She declared

d onto hers, his ex

ration. She knew she shouldn't be pushing back-not when the stakes were s

... I don't wa

eyes narrowed, his arms still cross

ow and urgent. "What if we use this marriage as a weapon

ion twisted in s