ly by the crackle of firewood in the hearth. Catherine let o

l who schemed her way into this

onto the rosewood coffee table. The dozens of provocative texts and private photos Julian had smugly deleted from

d. The sheets were filled with Christa's late-night taunts: He's in my room right now

s chest heaved violently, the veins bul

nd mocking. "Aside from the widow living in

apers in her fist, her

d's body isn't even cold and she's

's widow whose presence would turn the Montgomery name into a laughings

The Montgomery family isn't a place you can wa

n being played for a fool," Allie replied bluntly. "Besides, I never married Julian for your money. Three years ago, you f

nd humiliated, Catherine slammed her

edding-do you think Seattle hasn't lau

e was terrified that if Allie vacated the seat, her blinded fool of a son would actually try to mar

an's mind effortlessl

he media, and announce it later when the timing is right. Until the paperwork is finaliz

surprise as she reassessed

heard you chased after J

pmother made up to extort bride pri

ve me. Rather than three people tangl

though the shrewd suspicion of an old b

other of yours to stage this divorce and run off w

orized an emergency discretionary advance against his future distributions from the Montgomery Master Family Trust-a debt still flagged on the family audi

ing cleanly, I will return every single cent o

brow, a calculating smi

ars the master trust account, I will instruct our legal t

Allie let out a long breath. The first lock was open, though getting her greedy s

Porsche door and hand

o? Did the ol

kled her

condition that I return

ed. "That was your compens

ng it buys my freedom," Allie said, her eyes da