nd stepped back into the ballroom
mation was b
ors and desperation, now looked like a deliberate, deconstructed design choice. It showcased her long,
ning over Serena in her pristine white go
g the new lines of the dress, lingering for a fraction of a second on a dark, irregular mark near the raw hem-a faint, muddy residue that re
m, the center of the room's power. And for the first time, under the
drained
t in her throat.
was
eyes from the Rolls-Royce. The man on the magazine cover. Her one-n
all the sa
ed over her. She took a half-step back, her
A slow, dangerous smile touched the corner of his mouth, a barely perceptible cu
rlisle stepped forward, clearing his
se bonhomie. "As we all know, the alliance between the Carl
ct, his gaze sweeping the r
is only fitting that this alliance is solidified by blood. The engag
dropped into the
s. She turned to Liana, her voice trembling with practiced fragility. "Oh,
rough his hair, looking deeply annoyed. The identity of his fi
She didn't scream. S
d against a marble column, an expression of profound, chilling indifference on h
y outburst would have. "What's wrong with you?" he muttered
ess benefits of a union with the true heiress were too great to
tretched, thi
e first time, his voice c
ou are to marry into this alliance, you will start
ite. "The mailroom? U
s voice rang out, sharp and clear. She took a slow sip of her champagne. "Putting hi
asp rippled th
for Julian to explode, to
his dark eyes, for the first time, she saw something other than cold assessmen
yelled, pointing a trembling finger at her. "You're a nobody! A
ed, saving him from
t told the final story. Julian sat at the head of the long, imposing
able, next to an empty chair, a clear and pub
o was awkwardly fumbling with her silverware, look like a clumsy amateur. Liana's back was ramrod straight,
iness-mergers, acquisitions, market futures. Liana wa
put down his
e crystal rim of his water glass, the
the table, past the flowers, past the c
intimate murmur that carried with terrify
the air, a silken, deadly thre
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