ItwaslateatnightwhenEmmaliesconditionfinallystabilized.Shehadslitherwristsbutmadesuretoavoidanymajorveins,ensuringherlifewasntindanger. Besideherwasasuicidenote.Init,shebeggedTheatoleaveheralone,claimingshewasinnocent andterrifiedofgoingtojail. ShewrotethatshedidntwanttoconfesstosomethingshedidntdoandwasafraidThenwouldsendherbacktothatimpoverishedplace.Feelingcornered,sheclaimedshehadnochoicebuttoendherlife. Now,Emmalielayinthehospitalbed,paleandfragile,likeapuppetwithitsstringscut.Herredrimmedeyesand tear-streakedfacemadeherlookevenmore pitiful. WhenIvyregainedconsciousness,sheweptforawhileandbeganhittingand cursingatThea.Youbringnothingbutbadluck!Youjinx!WhydidyouhavetopushEmmalietothis?Why couldntyoujustleaveheralone ? Ivydidntholdback,herwordscuttingdeep.Theatriedtodefendherself,butthebodyguardsheldherdown.Beforelong,herhairwasdisheveled,andherfacewasscratchedandbleeding. Maxwatchedsilently,hisexpressioncold.Finally,heannouncedgivingTheaanultimatum.IcantbelieveIalmosttrustedyou.Youreheartless.Wellprovethisevidenceisfake,andifyoukeeptargetingEmmalie,dontbesurprisediftheHendrixfamilyandIsueyou. Thealetouta bitterlaugh,feelingtheweightofhopelessness. Lockherinthebasementforthreedays.Nofoodorwater,Maxordered. Thebutlerhesitated.WhatifJakecomeslookingforher? Maxscoffed,Shesheadedtojail.DoyouthinktheHendrixfamilywillstillwanther? Justthen,someonerushedin,announcing.TheHendrixfamilyishere: Maxsfaceshiftedbriefly,andhegesturedforsomeonetoquickly dragTheaaway.Butbeforetheycould,steadyfootstepsechoedthroughtheroom,followedbyadeepvoice.SeemsIvearrivedatabad time. Nicolasstoodinthedoorway,hisgazeicy. Maxquicklyplasteredon a smile.Mr.Hendrix,1 apologizeforthescene.Theacausedascene,andmymotherandIwerejustdiscipliningher. NicolasscoldeyesshiftedtoMax,whosuddenlyfelta chill rundownhisspine. TheRowlandfamilysstrictparentingisimpressive,Nicolasremarkedcoolly ashecasuallysatonthecouch.TmcuriouswhatMissRowlanddidtodeservesuchharshpunishmentfromherownfamily.Histonewas flat ,almostindifferentasifhewasjusttheretowatchtheshow. Ivywas abouttospeak,butMaxquicklypulledherback.Sweatformedon hisforeheadashefacedNicolas ,hisusualarrogancereplacedbyanervouspoliteness.Weactedinanger.Mr.Hendrix.WhatbringsyouheretoseeTheatoday? Hehesitated,thenadded,IfthisisabouttheAvonVenturesdataleak,Theamadeamistake.IfyouwanttocallofftheengagementbetweenherandJake,Iwont object.Ijustdontwantany badbloodbetweenourfamilies. Theaquietlyscoffedfromtheside- Nicolasremainedsilent,hisexpressionunreadable. 18 20:16Thu,Oct24 Chapter19 42% Sensingthetension ,Darwinasked,Hasnt MissRowlandexplained herself?Shewasnt responsibleforleakingthedata.Trwasasetupbysomeoneworkingwithan AvonVenturesinsider. Therealculpritwas Emmalie. No!Ivyquicklyshookherhead,hervoicefrantic.Emmaliedoesnt knowanythingaboutthatkindofstuff.Shesinnocent.Itcouldnthavebeenher EveryoneintheroomturnedtoIvywitha strangelook. WhenTheawasundersuspicion,Ivyhadbeen eagertothrowherunderthebus.Butnow,facedwithevidencepointingtoEmmalie.Ivyrushedtodefendher.Thefavoritismwaspainfullyclear. Tryingtosalvagethesituation,Maxsaidina calm voice,Emmalleistalentedinart,butshedoesntknowanythingaboutbusinessmatters.Therehastobesomemisunderstanding UninterestedinMaxsattempttoexplainthings,NicolasturnedtoDarwin.Youregettingsloppy.Whatstheideabehindtryingtomarryoffan adopteddaughtertotheHendrixfamily? Darwinsighed.Mr.Hendrix,Theaistheirbiologicaldaughter,notadopted Nicolasraisedaneyebrow,histonemocking.Oh?Ithoughtshewassomestraytheypickedup. Maxsfaceflushedwithshame.Hebowedevenlower.No,Mr.Hendrix ,youvegotitwrong.Wewerenttryingtomistreather.Theajustneverspeaksupwhensheswronged. HeglancedoveratThea,hiseyessuddenlysofteningWhyareyouall standingaround?GetadoctortocheckonTheaimmediately. ButNicolasintervened,hisvoicecold.anddismissive,Dontbother.IneedtospeakwithMissRowland.Illtake careofhermyself.TherewasastrangegleaminhiseyeasheglancedatMax. AsTheawalkedoutwithNicolas,herheadheldhigh,Ivysgazedarkened.ShethoughtofEmmaliestilllyinginbed,andhatredflashedinhereyes. ShegrabbedMaxsarmtightly.AfterwhatTheadidtoEmmalie,yourejustgoingtoletherwalk awaylikethat,huh? Maxlookedirritatedandimpatient.Mom,dontyouget it?NicolasshowingupinpersonmeanshesacknowledgingTheaandJakesengagement ThefuryinIvyseyesdimmed,replacedbyacautiouswarinessasshe absorbedMaxswords. Thecarwaswarm,filledwiththesoothingscentofmedicinalointmentmixedwithNicolasscoolcologne,easingsomeof Theastension. Liftyourhead,Nicolassaidina calm,commandingtone . Theaobedientlytiltedherchinupward,allowinghislargehandtosupport it. Ashiscallousedfingertipsbrushedhercheek,Theapressedherlipstogether,tryingtoappearcomposed.Buttherednessofherearsbetrayed hernervousness. Theointmentstungasittouchedtherawscratchesonherface.Theaseyelashesfluttered,and sheinstinctivelytriedtopullaway.Mr.Hendrix,Icandoitmyself,shesaidsoftly. Nicolasdidntreleaseher.Instead ,heaskedgently,DidIhurtyou? Theaquicklyshookherhead,herearsfluslaingevenredder 2/3 20:16Thu,Oct24 Chapter19 B42% Changingthesubject,Nicolassaid.Theresacharity galanextweek.Youllattendwithme.Makesurethesehealupbythen. Theaseyeslitupathiswords.So,youbelieveIdidntleakthedata,right?sheasked,hopeful. Nicolasraisedaneyebrow.DoIseemthateasytodeceive? Theasmiled,relievedbutstillunsurehowtoexpressherjoy.M.Hendrix,youcancountonme.Illworkhardanddowhateveryouneed. Nicolaspulledhishandaway,hisexpression remainingneutral.Dontcelebratejustyet.Thisincidentcausedsignificantdamage.Someonewillstillhavetotakeresponsibility. TheasexpressiondarkenedasshethoughtoftheRowlandfamilymembersobviousfavoritismtoward Emmalie. Sarahsbeencaught,andBradencantstayhiddenforlong.Oncewefindhim,hellbethekeytoexposing themastermindbehindallthis,shesaid. ThecarcametoastopinfrontofTheashotel.Shegotoutandbeganwalkingtowardtheentrance,butNicolass voicestoppedher.Thea,Illconsideryourproposalfrombefore. Theafroze,thenturnedaroundjustasthecarwindowrolledupconcealingNicolassrefined,handsomeface. Theengineroaredtolife,andthecardroveaway,leavingTheastandingthere,wonderingifshedimaginedthosewords. AskingNicolasforamarriageofconveniencehadbeenalastditcheffortwhenshewasbackedintoacorner.SinceNicolashadntmentioneditagain,shedassumedhedrejectedtheidea. Now,hearinghimreconsiderleftherbothsurprisedandoddlyHopefulaboutthefuture.