d down at me, his e

, his voice quiet but firm

im. "Oh, Damian, she must b

. I was terri

anca helped me to my feet,

ity Pines wellness retreat for post-natal care," Damian announced, his vo

n cold. Ser

it all went wr

e, Mr. Thorne. I can go h

e. "It's not a request, Eleanor. It's for t

ng manipulative, I

membe

ation as a trick, a p

renity Pines was s

nestled in lush hills, but

small, basic. My twins

n birth," though I hadn't seen her in th

pread, overflowing with flo

er, fetching her water

e of any comfort

y requests for extra blankets for the

erence, but Aethel Corp st

d to her that night, the twins final

lie? He's an as

e. He thinks I'm trying to tric

. "Why would h

last time. And he thinks I

n made an announcement

arship selection will proceed as planned in three days,

r a moment, a glint of som

ra. "Aethel Corp is proud

mach t

. The catalys

ing forward

ed that scholarship, th

ession with Cassandra,

rapped.