in the living room of the Wilson r
as it missed. The mug hit the wall, shatteri
Nicole, her voice shaking with malice. "You bring nothing but bad luck! After everything we've don
on the shards before
ocked up by some nobody, lost the baby, and now you act like you're above marrying into the Mo
If I'm so worthless, why force me to take Marissa's place? Wouldn't it be
ing with barely concealed outrage, po
Cathy's wrist mid-air, his grip unyielding. A shadow of f
issa's health really is fragile. The doctor insists she needs to re
se. Desperate, Brody chose to form a marriage alliance with th
had gone missing for years. Their second son, Aidan Moore, was rumored to be seriously ill and wouldn't last fo
acrificial lamb for her youn
I studied medicine?" she said, her gaze sharp as a scalpel. "Marissa's
ds landed like a blow, exposing th
ught off guard and
marry him." Marissa's voice trembled, but she forced herself to sound brave. "M
terrified Brody might ca
lse concern. "Everyone says Aidan is hideous, mean, and barely clinging t
down her cheeks in delicate, shimmering trac
you possibly end up shackled to a dying man?" Cathy wrapped Marissa in a ge
s she watched-Marissa always got protected,
sa churned Nicole's stomach. How easily they coul
led in the air as Cathy snapped, her voice sharp and brittle, "What
ma's will said Marissa and I each get ten percent of the sh
own on Nicole, his face twisted with fury. "If you hadn't dragged our name through the mud and tanked
, mocking smile. "You know what? It's
e-legs crossed, head held high, one brow arched in challenge. "A
es, Brody lunged forward, his
ch, her voice like ice. "Go on. You know
fought to swallow his outrage, forc
d, biting back his anger. "Fine. I'
lying as he opened the company system and summoned the board
h a confirmation text-her shares would b
ile curved on her lip
mphant glances, smug satisfaction flickering i
, but that came with the bitter price
ready, and make sure she looks the part of a perfect bride," Cathy ordered, her voice sharp and
the maid's quarters-the cramped, stale litt
y unfazed by the suffocati
she meant nothing, Nicole steeled herself with a silent