From Heiress to Outcast

arles Harrison's desk felt

s Hamptons estate, th

a private investigator, la

s voice devoid of its usual warmth

called mother, wrung her hands, her di

ly: a hospital mix-up on L

ez was not M

Ava Sterling, was

Her world tilted, colors fading. Betrayal was a bitter t

e bag, her movement

eave. She wa

d staircase, a figure b

, always distant, now looked at h

aya?" he asked, his

er, he grabbed her ar

aving," he sta

nches from hers. "I've loved yo

ed with a primal fear. She felt like a trapped animal. His

o their New York pen

les and Eleanor,

, Julian. This is madne

ed, engineered a hostile

nts from direct co

nnounced to them, his voice fla

elf a pawn, her rightful place usurped by Julian's s

, a prize Julian had claim

to escape t

only for Julian's head of securi

for a hospital visit, a chance. Julian b

Cameras, guards, even the st

epened her hopelessnes

r window felt miles away,

the forced we

an, a desperate, tear

is, Julian! Th

contorted. "You will be min

his sports car, drivi

ter. A crash. Julian w

doctors said he

his business, but not Maya. Not

iver of hope pier

anor Harrison s

heir remote Connectic

ched Maya w

nor said, her voice crisp. "He thinks you

. Substantial. Disappear quietly after a few we

y had raised h

sperate. This

A bitter taste filled her

Connecticut estate, hi

through Maya, no fl

housekeeper, gesturing vaguely at Maya. "

so dismissive, were

med to love her obsessively.

ervant, his voice sharp with irritat

, Julian's once-presum

histicated, and radiat

lian watching, "accidentally"

d Maya's arm. Olivia

rl! Julian, darlin

ng venom. "Julian and I are engaged again. T

s the face, the sound echoi

xed on a point beyond Olivia's triumphant face. Sh

owned slightly, a flicker of so

arling, she was so rude to me earlier. S

n Maya, seemed irritated

usekeeper, his voice cold. "Deal with h

Olivia towards the gar

Olivia's cruelty, crushed Maya. He didn't

rs. Peterson, was a ste

Olivia's de

cold room in the old staff wing as "punishment," Mrs. Pet

. Peterson whispered. "And Mr

, gently bandaging a scraped knee she'd gotten climbi

was a fresh

n. Noah Kim, her friend from h

t her state. "Maya? W

expected lifeline in t