The Heiress

up, a sharp pain flared beneath her shoulder blade. "Fuck," she hissed, noticing her hand already wrapp

nge sense of relief. She had made it.

e room. Startled, she turned to see her father,

ing quickly to kiss both his c

and nightgown," her father explained, his voice th

relationship had always been complicated, and she

to speak, her eyes wandering to the handmade curtain

ija," he said, bre

after giving that speech-I bet you're disappointed

he seal is hard enough. Does it still h

fresh mark, still throbbing. "Sa

g for the pain

d in front of the mirror, turning to study the burn on her skin. "I like it, though,"

ed to moments like this, where her affection for him and his world slipped through. Sometimes she enjoyed

r. "I know how much you look up to me," he said, brushing

ng a grayer color in his hair than before. It reminded h

e of your mother," he sai

prove of this,"

o the table to grab a manila envelope. "You've made your choice,

ograph of a man in his thirties. "He's good-looking," s

osen to marry one of the Alpha sons, w

w I want to ma

r said, shaking his head. "Love can still blosso

it talk, Papa," she said. "Any

an assassin, skilled at hiding, but we've finally tracked the son-of-a-bitch. Took us ye

And when I'm done, what should I do with him

ve his head on a platter, and you'l

ned. "Consid

e said gravely. "You've got too muc

. You know I never

t envelope," he said as he moved towar

her off guard. "Wait, yo

uthern Isla, in the Visayas. But first, breakfast is ready. Eat,

ure again. She sighed. "Poor man," she whispered. "T

creeping back. Her mom wouldn't have wanted this life f

t had to do whatever