The Heiress and Her Secrets

red into the estate

marble floors polished to a gleam, soft piano music drifting from t

aw cracks in e

careful, quiet, but with purpose. The letter from her father was sti

oftly as she entere

oors, gazing out over the gard

e heard Isabella.

sabella said. "Too ma

falter. "You should try

xpensive in

," Celeste replied calmly, walking toward t

ned with a til

t casting patterned shadows between them like bars. Celeste poured coffee

Celeste said, handing he

lla said, keeping her voice even. "Found some in

d, just barely. "Why w

study. And I wanted to rem

room is a relic of the past. You

ward slightly, "but I might be t

for a second-then resu

softly. "Don't s

ow. I have reason to believe things w

tly are you ac

dn't blink.

ere. I handled the press, the funeral, the shareholders, the lawyer

d. "From the world. Fr

ion hung i

he walls betwee

back into place. "You always

truth ov

se just slightly. "You think you're the only one who doubted thing

"You took the luxur

ly, walking to the b

ly. "And when you dig long enough in this

Isabella replied. "I just

her expression cracked-just a little.

" she said. "Even

letter warning me not to tr

lan

s parted-but

between them, ta

nally said, her voice low and dangerous, "just rememb

already given

g the untouched coffee

watche

e faint sound of porcelain cracki