A Substitute No More, A Queen Returns

Dougl

second. Surprise flickered in his eyes before he masked it with a poli

sive properties in our portfolio. Do you have a particular

ce flat. "A place where no one would thin

ollow desperation in my eyes. I saw a flicker of pity, but he was too professional to pry.

ossessed from a rather... eccentric client. It has a self-sustaining villa, solar power, a water desalination system. But I must be clear, it is utterly

ispered. The wo

take

produced for the transfer of funds from my grandmother' s trust. I signed the papers with a hand that barely shook, the stroke of the pen a final, severing

said, sliding a final document toward me. "And the transport will be ready to depar

my voice a ghost

es of the Blair estate, the sprawling villa Jameson

y enveloped in a wave of warmth and laughter. The s

erfect family portrait I

s waist, pulling a tray of roasted potatoes from the oven. He

l sentinels. Derrick was carefully cutting an apple into thin slices for her. Blake was pouring her a glass of water, making sure

s first!" Haleigh giggled, swatting at J

is voice softer and more indu

igh whined, pushing away a small cup of

ucing a small jar of honey. "A li

dance of devotion, and I was the

ee me. His smile froze. "B

but now it felt like a lie,

triumphant little smile playing on her lips. She knew

tone shifting into one of gentle reprimand. "Her time is

The words w

meson? So you can feel better about abandoning the woman who stood by you for

d in his jaw. "T

He stepped forward, a protective shield for Haleigh. "

his brow furrowed with disappro

d, his voice cold as ice. "Halei

smissal. I felt nothing. The part of me that coul

d feeling like a surrender. Bu

es. They had won. The troublesome spar

ith Haleigh. She's been wanting to talk to you." He and my brothers turned to prepare a

he stool and sauntered toward me. The fragile, dying pa

weetness. She held out a beautifully wrapped gift box tied with a silk ri

p back. "I d

ith laxatives before my prom. A beautiful scar

cooed, closing the distance betwe

ingly strong, and forced the box into

her wrist, she r

out of the box. It landed on the back of my hand. A se

at. It was a Brown Recluse

ing to shake the creature off. The box went

eyes roll back in her head, crumpled to the

rying to