Betrayed By Miss Wrong, Claimed By Mr Right

r rather, his reluctant acceptance,

ld be allowed to m

was heading

le: the jilted hero, running from heartbreak; the

whispers, the pitying

back, not with longing, bu

genuinely believed i

nionship, the life they

irrevocably gone, o

d uncertainty. Hers, to whatever

et apartment, a stark con

prepare fo

hecking, his affa

at Blackwood, confirming

es within the company knew of his trans

, a known quantity in a worl

mbraced her new na

where, their upcoming wedding

n in their honor by Julia

ing their love as a brave defian

thentic" life – expensive minimalist dinners, art ga

's charisma and Izzy's socialite

iumph over the "stuffy establishment" t

ern," "evolved

was th

ifferent to the public adu

his mission, on th

distant hum, irrelevant to the star

as a shield, hard-won in t

ncement caught

te grandfather had passionately suppor

ntique map of the region, a rare piece his grandfather

s, and Ethan knew his grandfather had often sp

for the society, not for th

beit quiet, work with Mac's veteran NPO mi

his grandfather's restin

al, a connection to the honor

, more subdued than the high-

han was r

see you out." A woman with sharp e

ut Miss Hayes. Such a shame. But

was the subject of thei

ublicly a

olitely, extri

his eyes scanning the ro

en he

an Vance at her

le family gathering" in the sense that Izzy's

ression flickered – surpr

Julian a smug sh

mth. "I trust you received word from Fathe

n confirmed,

ther still feels... indebted to your family. There might be a consultant role for you in on

pretense of concern, likely Julian' s idea. Sugg

nsultant. After a career leadin

r, the sacrifice – she was either i

itably cold refusal, she turne

for an answer, her se

ce, howeve

u know, the old ways are crumbling. Tradi

eedom. Authenticity. Something you, with you

he other hand, I'm about breaking barr

t Vance, truly

tounding, his understandin

dern to plagiarize your 'revolutionary ideas' from self-help books published

Izzy' s infatuation became clear. V

for the new age,' but I doubt you could chan

ered, a flicker of

ter, Carter. Stu

Izzy tells me your grandfather liked it. A relic, just like your worldview. Don't

d but clear. Vance w

award, and the map, ha