Jilted Heiress: Her Reign Has Begun

Stark

ont' s expensive cologne filled the air, a cloying, unwel

that false, patronizing warmth he used when he wanted something. H

busy, F

hin almost resting on my hair. I

ait

e casual, as if discussing the weather. "I was thinkin

the pristine white cardstock, marring the name of a respected judge

f the parents whose sacrifice had given him everything. He wanted her to

re a ghost of a whisper, but the

on't be d

memorial?" I finally looked up at him, my eyes b

ch turn. He had the audacity to look hurt. "But Corina is pregnant with my child. She' s going t

e might watch a mouse. "Besides, you' re always so understanding. Y

he face. He wasn' t asking for my under

ought, I picked it up and deliberately poured the hot liquid onto the floor, a few fee

nough for you?" I asked,

tburst would have been. "Etta, that was childish." He took a step t

ouch were acid. "Don'

ing. The charming mask slipped, revealing the cold arro

y voice shaking with a

not don

inted silver letter opener, a gift from my father. I held it up, not as

nged. Not to fear, but to annoyance.

roat. His fingers wrapped around mine, trying to pry the letter opener

a sharp, s

welled up from a deep gash in the palm of my hand. It dripped onto the seating chart, landing

e, staring a

gtone belonged to Corina. I knew it because h

ding hand. He looked

answe

oftening, dripping with a tenderness he hadn' t s

ared to the chasm that ripped open in my chest. It felt like my heart was b

assurances to her, while my blood conti

e call and turned back to me. He let out a lo

looking at my hand. "She doesn' t wan

says she' d feel uncomfortable if she came, but she' d also fee

d my lips. "So what' s your

e, his gaze cold and final. "I

words. Canceled. He had canceled my p

, his life. He died of a heart attack six months later, a broken man. I was left an orphan. The Warren patriarch, Fremont' s grandfather, had sworn a sacred oath on my father' s grave to care for

vered it. For a woman h

ard and did something so monstrously cruel it took my breath away. He gently brushed a st

pered, his lips cold against my skin. "Then everything wi

a pool of my own blood, the ghost of h

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