ooked down at Leo, really looked at him. His soft brown hair, the small mole just above his eyebrow. He

y," I whispered,

It felt like a spider crawling on my skin. I wanted to shrug

hy. She was a master performer. "Mark was... complicated. He left you in a ter

words were a lifeline in a sea of despair. Now, they were j

dly. "No one could expect you to pay that. The law protects you. Renouncing the inherita

rack in the facade. There was nothing. Just a polished, pract

rom my arms. The thud of the small box on my doorstep. The sight of

reed. I was trafficked and lived

his was not just about getting the money back. This was about justice. Thi

e. I would face the monster she

ce, Jessica," I said, my

on. "Of course, Liv. I' m your best f

ral home. My heart wasn' t pounding with fear anym

oing to take it,

froze. "What? Wh

s hovering nearby, and spoke loud enough

e. I will be inheriting his estate. All of i

atives of Mark' s who had bothered to show up stared at me a

"Olivia, are you crazy? Wh

ed nails digging into my skin. "Don' t be a fool! You

, the doors to the fu

anked by two equally intimidating goons. His eyes scanned the room and

called "The Shark." The

owing a row of

the solemn space. "I hear you' ve come into some m

hing else... a flicker of panicked recognition.

rf