The Heiress They Underestimated

hrough our elite New York circle like wildfire. The reactions w

throwing herself a

hooses a man who can't eve

e big, but what kind o

t about losing their "chance" with me or their positions at Sterling

lounge a few days later, Bella hover

r me to overhear as I approached. "She's actually g

en toy no one else wanted. Guess e

t the window, but his disapproval

be... maybe Avelia sees something in him we don't. Maybe it's true

heading for th

t. "Are you sure about this? There's still time to recon

lieve my life revolved

I said, not looking at him. "And

t out a small cry.

necklace, the one I had planned to wear to the upcoming charity gala, the one I had foolishly left on my dressing table

Ethan asked, ru

esk... it was so beautiful... I only wanted to look... I must have knocked it over w

idental touch, the devastating conseq

tue of Liberty keychain, all over again

I asked, my voice dangerously lo

t, Avelia! Can't you see she's devastate

just 'a necklace,' Noah. It was

mpatient. "What more do you want? You have dozens of pi

s is... unfortunate. But Bella didn't mean it. You know how

eyes I'd seen five years ago. As if I were the one at fault, for owning

sometimes I think you enjoy making Bella feel small. You have everything. Sh

im to perfection, who now stood there, tears streaming down her face, the very

. The forced apology. The way they had all sided with he

for calling off any understanding between us."* E

t. Still protecting

ar incidents, of their unwavering belief in her in

t Bella's tear-streaked face, then at t

ll emotion. "Get out. All of you. And Bella...

. Ethan put a prote

el, Avelia," he said. "She

trust, shattered long ago, was now ground into

of it all was