lier above the din

nd the long table. The Van

anderbilt II, wante

e partner for Va

t clear eve

ys found Isa

l, a coder, a ha

. So col

made me wa

cholars, they m

ry red hair, was openly drama

ness seem special, not

e me tonight. Her family, the Astors, were

" she whispered, her eyes fl

trust her smile. It d

just reserved, C

ot pushing it. I was t

wn the quiet east wing hallway.

rom Isabelle's s

eo's. Her suppose

taken the

g, his voice smooth, a little mocking. He w

ow, intimate sound I'

e, dear brot

I s

a gli

ingers tracing Leo's jawlin

red hers, pre

n't br

mach t

t touch, it bur

felt wrong. U

mage still fresh, I fou

g her horse, a

said, my

ern on her face. "E

nk I need to cons

brows s

y... genuine." My gaze

shing. "Ethan, wh

not be who I think she is.

father ove

Leo, not yet. Just that

Chloe Astor mor

his coffee cup. His eyes, sh

He sounded surpri

n are brilliant, loyal to this family because of the chance we've given t

small disagreement with Isabelle cloud y

d felt like as

r taste

e, in Isabelle's carefully constr

h had I

ing air, I walked ne

m again. Th

voice sharp. "He's so predictable. Thinks a

giggled. "Leo says Ethan's

tt, your 'panic attack' at the dinner last month wa

as fragile, not a threat. Besides, it kept him away fro

od ran

king about me

wasn't subtle; i

lecti

o. Alw

oice, not in the r

ic law student, said. "Keep Ethan on the hook, but make sure he kno

iona, said, "Leo is just... ama

ed, confirming my wors

ped up. It's not just brother-sister, y

come too, when they were adopted," Olivia a

flashe

ans, their parents lost in a tragic accident.

irm: Leo had to be

as a good kid. I'd even told Dad he should giv

y made me

le and the other Schola

sensitivity

t that Leo got too much attention, especial

tt

eo's artistic soul," Isabelle wo

ds our

would murmu

yself. My own

eces slamme

ed intuition. It was the res

s enormous, a we

see. To kn

leep. I walked the estat

small guest cottage Le

ing in the shadows o

s weren't f

aw

lle a

, his hands tangle

eyes soft, adoring. The way I'd

they

nate kiss that

ot a gentle crack, bu

frozen,

k slightly, her voi

e soon, Leo.

yes?" Leo's vo

ame, the resources... it's what we've always

rs. Ethan is just... a means to an end. He'll get a beautiful, accom

final, brutal

rofound, aching heartb

heir, was just a paw