k came a

nds had nearly crushed her lungs, and his thre

an she already was if she wasn't alrea

carried an unplanned baby in her stomach just so she could su

is study," the guard announced, and with

She pondered what reason the General could hav

had done the day before, and the day bef

meant to be serious. So whatever the General had to

high-necked gown to hide the fin

irror. "I can do this. I have come this far, and

f, she left her room, headi

the very first time she was in there. Never once ha

e General sat in his ever-imposing chair, carved from pure wood. Sh

uried deep inside. "You... you called for me, sir,"

he co

ck straight, eyes

stretched between them, t

ow

ng what he meant. "I'm sorry, sir, but I don't understand wh

get pregnan

ted. Pierce Landon was a playboy who slept with virtually every girl who walked

General, but your son

ile I admire your ability to keep quiet," he leaned back in his

ow shaken she was, she clasped her hands on h

n't k

to a shelf, and pulled out a file, then threw it onto the table. Camille gulped. "You were arrested the very day you returned to Ventria. And

she had gotten pregnant the wrong way? The General

hand. "I didn't want to be executed. So I had your son's

at.

resounded through the study, bou

timidation, now held admiration. "You are a doctor, after all. It

er her plan, but her father wanted it. That way, she could take his place when he died. He had m

id, snapping her out of her thoughts. His amuse

"I'm guessing you have a

woman to get my s

a child he doesn't

ore tha

s attracted to me?" S

ery much

General, but you're wrong about that. Yo

hate, I believe there is raw attracti

ining eye contact. "You w

ant you to make him fall for you. I

k that's even possible. But if I do

ed. And I'll personally ensure yo

ine. A

e rest of her life, but with the General's resou

e expected, and she'd b

nodded

y falling for you, I'll up

, sir," Ca

be all. You

urned to go, she rememb

called, t

al looked

e said softly. It wasn'

arched a b

still alive. I'm sure they're worried s

en waved a hand. "An escort

WENS

esolve. Not even its haunting façade loomin

to deliver a message

let herself in. Her stepmother, Gemma, descended th

t she was still putting on the show of

ently. Her hands shook as she grabbed the stair railing. Her face went pale, her mouth

tly. "Aww, Mother,

he pointed at Camille in fear. "No, this isn't p

, and she froze the moment she saw Ca

at it?" Camille cut in, clapping h

asked her daughter, her

d, too afra

eeded right? But it would take

or your arrest, Camil

I'd believe you didn't set me up for my

her gaze.

if you suddenly develop a conscience, it'll b

t to feel. Because I did nothing wrong." Her grin w

you pay for murdering my father. And I will take back everythin

Without looking back, she said, "Just sit tig