from the study continued, each word a hammer blow against my fragile state. It wa

faintly through the phone, just loud enough for

at philanthropists. They thought they owned the world, that they could buy and sell people like me. They came to my father, to my c

he hardwood floor. I could picture him, his

y were willing to use corporate blackmail to do it. They looked at me like I was just another as

r crash... it was a gift. It set me free. And now, I'm going to return the favor

e, especially after they saw how Mark treated me behind closed doors. They saw something good in Liam, the boy I grew up with, and they wanted to ensure my happiness and securit

ever, were born of p

is voice pleading. "This is between you and her pare

m their power. She's a Miller. She's tainted by them. And Chloe agrees. Chloe understands. S

years. The woman who always seemed to be lurking in the background, a faint smile on her lips. I realized n

ng. It's about taking what's mine. Once I marry her, her parents' company, their fortune, it all becomes part of our new li

oom and confront him. But what would that accomplish? He would deny it. He would call me hysteri

to be cold, si

inal, grotesque act of desecration he had planned. He wasn't just trying to hurt me; he was tryi

to my room, my heart a block of ice in my chest. The grief for my parents was still there, a

oken doll he could manipulate.

was. The game wasn't over. It had ju