Undefeated Boundaries

Smiles with

gathering still echoed in her ears. Laughter, glasses clinking, the s

the suite, si

h her other hand, she absentmindedly traced invisible shapes on the marble floor. Her fingers moved in sof

't speak immediately-only watched her, his gaze unreadable. His suit, cut with precise elegance, was fla

ho claimed to feel anything. She blinked slowly, her gaze drifting upward, tracing the

amed of it. Money, power, ruthlessness. The same thi

ed her h

Brown's voice cut through the

," she said quietly, her voice flat. Her gaze was still on

ing at first. T

for refusal. Rising to her feet, she walked over slowly

ised everything her family stood for, Charlotte had walked

. His fingers brushed over her knuckles, where faint blisters and re

omething," he said quie

her hand away, but he he

ch," he added, no

murmured. "They were laughing. I didn

owed. "About the

stions-they were knives wrapped in lace. Miss Empire. Miss Su. Cynthia. Each with their bar

said coolly. "Jealous, too. Of

aid n

ked then, tone s

but the words wouldn't come. She wasn't sure if

t time that night, there was something almost human in his exp

ng away, Charlotte.

ake name she used in social circles. Not Ms. Scott, the empty formali

vered. "You

dded

"I don't understand you. One moment y

" he e

ooking at me like you want to

n't de

is hands behind his back, his face becomin

n landed heav

u already won. Chloe Corporation is yours. My family is gone

wist anything," Brown said slo

on her brother's name. "Because he's still recove

e left. But

tte fl

ir from her face. "You act like you're powerless. But

y everything. My home. My father's legacy. And then

d pause

said softly. "I prefer

talking to the man who had once comforted her during boardroom

d. But you never once as

om wen

the wine cabinet instead, pouring a glass slowly. H

askin

ds star

the layers of calculation, of polished perfection, there was something fractu

this time on the edge of t

Pretending I was still someone important

k over and hande

dn't t

and asked, "What do you re

didn't avoid

out your father's shadow. Without anyone holding y

f I sh

ieces. Or walk away. Tha

"That's not affection. That's o

. And storms either clear the sky-o

e redness on her knuckles, the fading

didn't

hand again, brushing his t

aid. "You're not fightin

room, his footsteps silent

the wine untouched beside her. Her heart

tradiction wrap

lowly becomin

contin

th the next portion of the chapt