Auctioned Heiress: The Vicious Queen's Revenge

e evening quiet of the Carroll estate. The car shuddered to a halt inches from the manicured boxwoods. Before she could k

into the crushed stone. She didn't look at him. She didn't need to. T

ght from the crystal chandelier was blinding, forcing her to squint. The air w

slow, deliberate rhythm on the polished wood, the sound like a ticking clock counting down to an execut

ce of steak on her plate, her hand trembling as she

attempt to break the tension. A single sharp glare

said. His voice was dr

over the wood, the soft scraping sound unnaturally loud

She reached out, her fingers brushing a

all Street's rising stars. Next to each photo, written in Felton's spidery red ink, was a valu

. She gripped the edge of the pa

he way you dismantled the Vance acquisition was messy. It made waves. You've ang

of the sickness churning in her gut. "I secured our market share for the

own flat on the table. The bang made the wine glasses tremble, red liquid sloshing against

She looked like a frightened little bird, huddled in her chair, h

en. You have one week. This marriage will form a powerful alliance, on

lips. "And Jan? What's her role

esn't have your... talent for destruction. But she is also not t

e, pl

finally looked up, her eyes swimming with tears. "Just lis

. Any lingering flicker of hope she'd held that her mother might stand u

arp, effective knife they used to carve out their ambitions. And now that

robotic, Clare picked up her linen napk

options," she said. Her voice was p

warned, his eyes narrowing. "The boa

he marble, a raw, protesting shriek. She stood, her spi

nd walked to

ay, a figure stepped out from a darkened alcove. Her

ce dripping with venom. "Finally putting yourse

nough to fix Carli with a look. A look so

k. She stumbled against an antique vase, the p

nt, contemptuous sound escaped her lips as she ascended the sweep

dhood. She stepped inside, closed the heavy oak door,

ving out. She slid down the door until she was sitting on the

est. Her fingernails dug into the palms of her hands, the sharp pain a w

entire Carroll empire to the ground be

swor