eana’s arms hung limp at her sides, her gaze growing vacant.

At some point, Larkin Yardley had appeared behind Cole, offering him a sanitizing wipe. Cole stood up and wiped his hands with deliberate care, a far cry from the eager, puppy–like demeanor he displayed in front of Alessia.

“Tell the Tate family that if they want this partnership to continue smoothly, I don’t want to see this person around again.”

“Yes, sir,” Larkin replied, nodding as he watched Cole leave.

“What’s that supposed to mean? Don’t you dare walk away! You’re just Alessia’s lapdog! Do you really think your words scare me? You think the Tate family will actually listen to you?”

Ileana shouted after him, her voice ragged and nearly gone. She tried to go after Cole, but her body wouldn’t obey.

Frustration settled over her like a heavy blanket. All she could do was glare viciously at Larkin, not realizing just how pathetic she looked.

Larkin dialed a number. “Mr. Dawson, yes, she’s in the gymnasium. Our CEO’s instructions are clear: if you want the partnership to continue, someone here

needs to leave.”

the other end.

at her, not a trace of sympathy in

hard to get your Miss Tate status back, but now? Looks like

face went even paler. It wasn’t supposed to be like this. She was supposed to be in control. If she wanted to stay with the Morton family, she could. If she wanted to return to the

like this?

she waited for Mr. Dawson to come fetch her, she went over everything in her

wrong.

Six years earlier

Ileana lounged comfortably on a five–thousand–dollar sofa, cradling a bowl of

Zachary to the hospital for a checkup, Brendan was at the office and Ethan and Liam were off at their respective summer

let their children follow their own interests. If one of them wanted to take a class–even an expensive one–they’d enroll them. If not, that was fine too. Good

full of kids, the eldest two were so well–behaved that Karen could breathe easy. The third child was a bit of a handful, but he loved music and was enrolled in every class he wanted. He might have

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