by the time Elena retur

l. For years, she had walked through those gates under Adrian's shadow, his perfect wife on display. Now, she walked through them

light could erase the pall of death. Elena slipped off her gloves with practiced calm and handed them to Marta, the maid who had serv

Isabella sat in the corner, clutching a handkerchief, her eyes stil

of mourning his brother. His gaze swept the room like a general surveying troops. When it landed on Elena, he smir

The lawyer, Mr. Gallagher, shuffled his papers, his spectacles slip

Marquez, Gallagher began, I will now read t

h the drawing room like

ves. Polite nods, murmurs of acknowledgment. But when Gallagher's voice shifted

e controlling shares of Marquez Holdings, along with ownershi

neath a wave of gas

heart drummed like a trapped bird in her chest. She had expected

n against the table. The c

ear, Mr. Marquez. Your brother appointed his wife

. His face flushed red, his composure cracking. She h

, Gallagher interrupted firmly. The

Adrian's growing paranoia, his late-night rages, his obsession with loyalty. Why had

on the table. And said, this is a commit

of stares, sharp and accusing,

ice was calm, even. But Adrian's wishes are clear. Questioning his will is que

eth grinding audibly. Mark my words, he hissed, low enough for only her to hea

ime the papers were signed and sealed, the Marquez family had splintered into quie

eafter, her chest felt tight, her head was heavy with the heaviness of eyes, talking to h

broke th

ritance. She t

faintly against the tiles. Without the shadows of the cemetery, his features were clearer: a strong ja

sured. Detective Damian Cross. I've been asked to assis

So that was why he h

ies, she repeated, her voice flat. I thou

But when a man of Adrian's stature dies suddenly, th

had endured all day pressed h

you here to ask, Dete

een a smile and a warning. Only th

eiled grief, his guarded scrutiny. Somewhere in her chest, a

nclined his head.

is footsteps echoing down th

frozen, her

her discredited. Society wanted her guilty. And

er breath. The empire was hers on paper, but in reality,

harp enough to see through