The Heiress's Forbidden Love

the Lancaster est

humiliation still burning in her chest like acid-gone. Bu

sion, surrounded by the people who were supposed to love h

s of their ancestors, had never felt so small. The dim glow of the c

nd clasped behind his back. His suit remained impeccable, his posture rigid, but the carefully curated world

e

pearls at her throat. She hadn't said a word since they left the gala, bu

in an armchair, swirling the whiskey in his glass,

king the silence first

s jaw c

processing.

had stepped in, why they had let Julian humiliat

ot come to the re

rough the silence, even and

ing herself to meet his gaze

d. "No. But you were e

eep, sharper th

ers trembled as she adjusted her pearls, as if the weight of them had suddenly beco

c of her gown. "I did nothing," s

rrupted, his tone dism

e had done to her? After dragging her

you blaming me

lass down with deliberate precision. "Because this wouldn'

omach

ing to steady her

oom s

out... my inheritance." The words felt forei

onfirm it. But he d

turned he

aking his head. "Poor Serena.

"And no one thought to tell m

is expression unreadable

disbelieving laugh, one that

cold and final. "I

inside h

everything she had been told

oo entertained. "Well, you always said you wanted to m

bubbling beneath the surfac

if you thought Julian would marry you witho

h twisted

hy he propose

rked. "I

breath

red words of devotion, the effortless charm that

conditional? Had

disapproval. "You should have kept him happy, Serena. If you h

ung worse th

elief crashing over her in waves.

back toward the fire. "It doesn't

ground shif

pered. "You're just... w

ression unreadable. "I

rawled up

ce?" sh

ating. "You have embarrassed this family in a way th

shifted unc

hed with

ou want to remain a Lancaster," h

eath caught

he said, his words slow, deliberate. "You will be str

opped. "You ca

ill prove your worth. Or you

through h

at the harshness, bu

tle. "Damn. That's hars

felt like it

the title? The status? The safety net of being

, it wa

do this," s

d a brow. "I

e rising panic.

that door," he said si

ords settled like a

away again, unab

looked e

elt utte

couldn

Not in fro

left, she lifted her chin. Her voic

tudied he

nails digging into her palms. "But wh

er said

closed h

w this is going t

arply, pulse roa

n't loo

her life, she walked awa