His Manipulation, Her Undoing, His End

aive heiress, unaware I had video proof o

e with my cousin, but tonight, I'

ng his dea

docile, grateful orphan while Holden

aughing as they planned to strip me of

la, smug in their victory, treating me like

ears. They expe

got a cold-blo

, I didn't hand my voting rights to t

d the charter to the one ma

n In

lent "monster"

ed away by security, I realized

just choo

man who ever tr

pte

Kline

ritance, my entire future – all to be neatly plucked from my grasp. The private camera I' d set up, a desperate, childish act of suspicion, had yielded absolute, undeniable proof. My life before this moment felt l

, to make them pay. The surprise wasn't that they betrayed m

e. My heels clicked, a lonely sound in the murmuring crowd. I spotted him instantly. Holden. He stood near a sculpture, his golden hair catching

yalty. A prince and

omething to Dianne. Her gaze darted to me, then she giggled, hiding her face in Holden' s should

e glass wobbled, then fell. It shattered on the marble floor

ing, cut through the quiet. "Cleo, darling, would you min

indulgent, superior tone. I was always the one to "handle things." To s

ing to see if the little orphan girl would jump to her master's command, as always. They always wa

had I scurried, heart pounding, to fulfill his slightest whim? How many times had I tried to earn his approval, his love?

y voice clear and steady, surprising even myself. The sound

tightened. "Excuse me?" Hi

his, unblinking. "I won't be cleani

like the air had been sucked out of the room. Ever

are you feeling alright?" he asked, his voice laced with venom. He didn't ask if I was alr

delicate." "Holden will have his hands full, won't he?" The words were like a choru

yed slightly. She clutched her head. "Oh, my head...," she murmured, a hand p

eadying her. "Dianne, darling! Are you alright? You need to be more careful." He turned his stormy gaze

, her voice barely audible. "Just a little dizzy spell. I'm afraid the excitement...

een through a lot. Your insensitivity is appalling." He paused, his voice dropping to a theatrical whisper that still carried across the room. "Unless, of

foul odor. "Trying to win me back with dramatics? Cleo, please. I

board is making some rather... unfavorable changes to your father's legacy?" He leaned in, his voice dropping, but I heard every word. "You

n mocking my father' s sacrifice. To him planning to declare me incompetent. The betrayal bu

affections are quite settled. And as for the Ingram board..." I let my gaze sweep across the stunned faces of the socialites, lingering

h Ingram, the patriarch, had been very quiet about certain

ou talking about?" he demanded, a h

key players to hear. "And the real purpose behind tonight's gathering. How certain voting blocks are about to be... realigned. Isn't

and me with newfound speculation. The smiles of some of Holden's sycopha

ar. Dianne, still clutching his arm, looked equally lost. His c

d off my words. He forced a condescending smile. "You always did have a vivid imagination. Don't let it run away with you, darling. You know

. The feeling of being watched. I glanced at Holden, a sudden, unnerving thought taking roo

ssing me. "Come, Dianne. Let's find somewhere quieter. This clearly isn't the place for us." He bega

isive laughter, hushed and ugly, followed in their wake. "Still clinging to hi

erceptible smile. They didn't see the fire in my eyes. They didn't hear the new promise forming in my heart. They didn't know the old Cleo wa