arble floors as she stormed into the lobby o

he night she walked out of the Sinclair mansion and neve

saw her standing near the security desk, draped in furs, dark sunglasses perched atop her perfectly done h

d, arms wide. "You look...

, eyes narrowing. "Wha

n't falter. "You always did

a bit out. "You're worse. At l

thed her expression. "I came because I heard a

The tabloids had

," Isabella said coldly. "A

er. "Look at you. Working as someone's secretary?

s from employees and security guards around them. The scene was lou

nce," Isabella said, he

rown steel under all that silk, h

lla f

Don't let h

ou out," she

a grabbed her wrist, her

e five minutes. Somew

mother's mouth was so rar

tly, she

way from the office. Isabella kept her arms

aling eyes that were once sharp and

ntly. "I came because I made a mistak

a said

t want you to know the truth. About me.

. "You left us, remember? You walked out on your

udia said, her voice shakin

blinked

air trophy wife forever. I was having an affair, Bella. He found out. He said i

er, the confession l

with me," Claudia whispered. "And I b

no reason not to," Is

led envelope. "I wrote. Every birthday. Every holiday. I n

ng hands. Inside were faded cards, each

eyes before she

ot asking you to forgive me. Just... to

ella said, voice tight. "

some strings, maybe get you a new position, one that's mor

t you dare talk about

brow. "Oh? And what i

my b

childhood artifacts from secret warehouses. They also don't let pretty girls with no qualifications waltz i

ks flamed. "It'

you're playing a dangerous game, darling. Don'

. I'm rebuilding. You may not recognize me

world doesn't wait for women like

card on the table. "Call m

, she was gon

e office late, rattled

floor-to-ceiling windows when

ok up. "You

. family e

to her face. "You

"I'm fine. It won'

nt. Then he rose from his chair and w

even the strongest people," he

dened. "You speak like you

d

ity glowed beyond the glass, thousa

ning, he asked, "

ew who

dded

ms my father forced her out.

believ

what to beli

Good. That means you're sta

gaze, her pul

a. Every move you make now... it shapes who you be

eath c

his phone buzzed on the desk. He glan

ugh for tod

e was. Who it was from. Why his e

he di

rned t

ached the door, he

stop

id, voice rough. "But you hav

blin

e felt something warm and u

o

taring at the ceiling, her phone lit

wn Nu

le did. You're not sa