was used to getti

pened every door, sil

ilt Vanderbilt Innovations from nothing in

wenties, was the sol

just a bit naive, a bi

derbilt Vanguard," handpicked by

mplished, pulled from hardship and polis

would have been

d eyes for Isabel

as dif

coder, sharp, c

wn over him li

s a magnet, her com

ke a fool for her, a "simp,"

r attention,

r distance wa

as w

ala in the Hamptons was

hampagne, the elite

ed to ask her to dance, to try, once ag

with Chloe Davis and Olivia C

e overflowing buffet, their voices low but clear

en by a large fl

ying, a smirk in her voice. "Thinks

d. "It' s about which one of us draws the short

laugh. "It' s a sacrifice, yes

e

she' d insisted on bringing with her from Chicago

r Vanguard, added, joining their huddle, "Ethan can ha

ost painful to watch," Jessica Lee chi

nspiratorial sound that

s infatuation, a

tivating Izzy, was part

hampagne in his hand su

urning, and walked away from

e clinking glasses of the g

nderbilt Sr., holding court wit

voice tight, "I need to

ok one look at his son' s pa

rary office, away from

han said, the words tasting

ly decided on Isabelle? It' s about time. She'

voice flat. "Not Isabe

"I' m going to propos

d. Daughter of a tech CEO w

intelligent, and genuinely ca

surprised, th

. Solid. But what about the Vang

m," Ethan bit out, the words raw.

l fresh. "They' re not interest

ccomplished. They owe their careers to this family

tter twist to his lips. "Just not

. Izzy. Chloe. Olivia. Ma

ersation, the casual

ve with Leo Hayes.

f, marry me, to ensure continued Vanderbilt support. F

eo Hayes? The boy Isabelle i

thentic soul' they need to protect and provide

iliatio

d created the Vanderbilt Vanguard

ional talent in underprivileged young women, offering the

that one of them would prove a

would support him and

gger. He' d wanted to observe

emed

he crown jewel

art of Chicago, a geni

raw talent, brought her

was barely twenty, but her eyes held a ma

m. "Leo comes with me. He'

lnerability, quickly became a fixture, doted upon by Izzy, and soo

ad been

o Leo as a mark of her loyalt

towards him, thinking she

– a disruptive scene at a charity event last year – he' d th

ation. It was a ploy to make him find her unsuitable. So

ed back to cou

deflections o

, their polite but ultim

owing glances wh

too boring, too predictable, not exciting

was far mo

a mark. A st

t part w

n his mind, the ones th

, after the group conversation, her voice soft, in

uriosity, a need to hear the final

ded balcony, moonlig

"I' ll handle Ethan. He' s easy to manage. Once we' re marri

icture of contentment. "You

oice thick with an emotion Ethan

affection. No

Leo, the way her hand

ook she' d reserved for another man while plan

tation wa

p-like" devotion, shatter