BILLIONAIRE HEIRESS RECLAIMED HER THRONE

atmosphere remained ice-cold. Avery Woods adjusted the silver cutlery for the tenth time, her reflection

at the cloc

fect, "silent" wife. To the world, she was the tragic daughter of a fallen house who had lost he

hoed in the hallway-the sound of a man who owned the worl

candles. He didn't look at the $2,000 bottle of vintage Bordeaux she'd managed to s

, gravelly baritone that used to make her h

e. She stepped forward to take his jacket, her

d a thick manila envelope onto the dining table, right on top of the lace centerpiec

the envelope to know what it was. The word DIV

The mention of Melanie Thorne, his "soulmate" and Avery's former best friend, brought a light to his

entity, protecting Lucca's company from the shadows using her family's secret connections, on

glass of the wine she had decanted. He took a sip,

nthly stipend of ten thousand dollars. For a girl from the streets who can't even speak, it's a win

because his mother refused to let "the mute girl" hire staff. She thought of the nights she spent ghost

wish: "Hide your light until the Wood's enemies

one. And tonight, the ghost

n against the signature line. "Well? Sign it. Or do I n

d paper. She picked up the pen. Lucca smirked, a look of bored triumph on

the table. With a sudden, violent j

AS

across Lucca's expensive Italian leather shoes li

ting in rage. "What the hell is wr

cidic, Lucca," a

The voice was rich, melodic, and hummed with a power that shook the very

er posture vanishing. She looked at him with eyes that were

chillingly calm. "It requires a refined palate to appreciate. Something

against his ribs. "You... you can talk

glass, her gaze pinning him to the spot. "I was observing. And I've obs

splattered. She pulled a pen from her own pocket-a custom-made platinum W

he papers aga

eath warm but her words like ice. "I'm signing them because I'm bored of playing house w

ing despite his trembling hands. "That's the headquarters o

edatory, beautifu

past the lobby, Lucca

ng in the wreckage of their anniversary di

likes diamonds. It's a shame she'll be wearing lab-grown ones

ans was already pulling into the driveway, their headlights