er parents at a formal dinner. Mrs. Eleanor Ainsworth, Liam' s mentor and a reve

: to discuss Ava and Liam

nterested, but they' d brushed it off as pre-wedding jitters, es

d on her face, a knot of dread in her

erved when the doors to the

lker st

iant and beautiful,

room. Ava' s parents looked horrifi

ng Isabella to the

ph. "I have wonderful news. Isabella has done me

ond. "Oh, Ava, darling," she cooed, her voice dripping with false sympath

rfectly feigned innocent eyes, Ava knew. Is

he remembered their past l

r throat. "Isabella, dear. It' s been a while. The last I heard, you took a rather sub

e faltered. Liam

tion could escal

a said, her voice calm and c

uly in love with me. It was a youthful infatuation

ctly at Liam. "Congra

ed him when she was a child, before her crush had led to a more familiar "Liam." It highligh

the formal address – it wasn't the reaction he'd exp

" he seethed, his voice low and threatenin

u, Mr. Walker, I will stay far away fro

cked parents. "Mom, Dad, I

ted, leaving behi

harleston society overnight. The

' d set aside for her condo and began making shrewd investments. Using her knowledge from her

her own future