The Charity Case's Crown

hiskey glasses. I stood in the shadows of the hallway, a tray of hors d'oeuvres forgotten in

heard m

his voice slurring slightly. "You' ve been together

d. It wasn't

y, no connections. Marrying her wo

a long

ld want her? She' s practically a charity case

The sound was loud, but no one inside seemed to notice over their laught

d back to my small room in the Hamilton mansion

ing on her phone. She looked up at

what' s

peak. I just

ossed envelope on my desk, the

softly. "The one from Julian Croft. The

and, a massive sum of money that felt like a fantasy. Before tonig

had n

my only

s shaking, and dialed the num

d. "Croft Foundation,

own voice sounding distant. "I' m cal

pen. Ethan stumbled in, reeking of alcohol. He

my hair. "Party' s over. Let

turned my head away. The

t, Et

yes narrowing. "What

aid, my voice flat and cold

by my rejection. He expected me to

ose again. "After I marry Chloe, nothing has to change betwee

away, harde

t ou

uldn't understand why his charit