LOGINJane’s phone chimed. Text message. Susan. [I can meet in 20 minutes. Send the address.]After Susan’s call a few days ago, Jane had been curious about her motivations.[11b Blairworth. Kevin’s Cuisine]If they were meeting, it had to be on Jane’s turf. She couldn’t take any risks.She put her phone on the table. Kevin walked in from the back, wiping his hands on his apron.“Jane Sullivan. Beautiful as ever.”“Get over yourself Kevin, I’m not in the mood.”“Fine, fine. I hear you, you never are.”Kevin had always had a crush on her since high school. When they reconnected he had become a successful chef. He asked her to marry him. She said no because by then she was already working for Ian, and Patricia was grooming her to be the future matriarch of the Hunter empire.Kevin was rich. But he wasn’t Hunter rich. Even after she told him no. He said he will wait for her to change his mind. He still couldn’t say no to her.And she used that ruthlessly.“Did you get the pictures?”Ke
"It's rude and disrespectful to walk into someone's room uninvited, Susan."Emily was tired of everyone trying to walk over her.Jane. Kevin. Her father.And Susan definitely wasn't going to get a chance.She saw the shock on Susan's face."And who the hell do you think you are talking to me that way, you charity case?" Susan snapped.Emily's anger boiled and spilled over.Emily stood."I am Mrs. Hunter. The woman of this house. You should show some respect or show yourself out."Susan froze.A satisfying feeling washed over Emily.It was intoxicating."One phone call to Scott and you'll be out of the house.""Why you—""Watch your tone, Susan."Emily saw Susan's eyes go red with rage.Susan's mouth opened. Closed.Then she turned and stormed out.A rush flooded Emily's veins.Power.She'd never felt anything like it.Then Scott's words played in her head."You're the wife of a billionaire. You can do whatever you want."Emily giggled.For weeks, Susan made her feel unwelcome.Not any
Emily stood in front of Kevin’s Cuisine.Drenched in spoiled milk.The stench clung to her hair, her skin, her clothes.The construction workers around her started moving back.They were all staring. Some whispered. Others covered their noses, faces twisting in disgust.She looked up and saw Jane’s car speeding off.Emily’s feet were stuck to the ground.Where was she even supposed to begin?How do you recover from this?“What’s going on?” Kevin’s voice cut through the murmurs.The crowd parted.She saw his eyes widen with surprise.“What the hell, Em?” He moved toward her.Emily couldn’t speak.Aside from the fact that she was still recovering from shock, she was also worried that if she opened her mouth, the spoiled milk would drip in.Almost like Kevin understood the situation perfectly.“Come. First let’s get you cleaned up.”He gestured, and she followed him.They went into the restaurant, past the setup, all the way to the back.Emily was dripping everywhere.“Sorry about—the fl
“If Ian doesn’t win, it’s over for all of us, Jane.” Patricia’s tone was sharp. “Even if that means sabotaging Scott Hunter, then so be it.”Every month Patricia organized a meeting at her bookstore—dusty shelves, the same worn leather chair where Patricia delivered her ultimatums.Now it was all about the inheritance.And Jane was the closest Patricia would get to it.And now Nate was involved too.A means to an end. That’s all Jane and Nate were to Patricia.Jane’s hands clenched into fists.“I’m working on it.”“Work faster.” Patricia snapped. “God, when Silvia was alive it didn’t take this much to get money from the Hunters.”“It’s not magic. These things take time.”“I’m not sure what you guys are talking about.” Nate leaned back, arms behind his head. “Nothing takes time with me.”Jane’s heart jumped. She knew exactly what he meant.“You in?” she asked her brother.“In like an 8 ball.”“You’ve always been the smarter one.” Patricia smiled at Nate.Jane’s jaw tightened.Here we g
“So when will you be in New York?” Cooper asked Scott from the other end of the call.“Paul says the first hearing is in a couple of days. I’ll be in town tomorrow.”Scott had gotten a text from Paul earlier, filling him in on the details for the first hearing.“Shit. They’re really claiming you killed the man?” Cooper sounded worried.“I honestly can’t wait to see what stupid games dumb and dumber are playing this time.”Cooper chuckled.“Can’t wait to have you back.”“Yeah. Not for long, hopefully,” Scott replied. “I have pressing matters to attend to here. It’s the court, then straight back.”“How are Mia and Emily? I heard Susan’s back too.”“Yeah. They’re all good.”“You know I’d gladly listen to your problems, Scott. But that’s not why I called,” Cooper said.“Yeah, I know. What’s the update?”“The product has been quality tested. We’re good to go.”“So it’s finally ready for production?” Scott asked.“Yes. It just needs your final touch, sensei,” Cooper teased.Scott chuckled.
“I won’t be gone long—it’ll probably just be an open-and-shut case.”Scott tried to sound convincing.But Emily’s heart had already sunk.As much as Scott tried to reassure her, from what she’d heard, she knew it wasn’t going to be open-and-shut.She believed he was telling the truth.Scott seemed like a lot of things. A killer was not one of them.But he didn’t have to prove it to her. He had to prove it to a court, and that could take months.She’d be alone in his mansion, Susan breathing down her neck.Alone without his protection.Alone after he’d just shown her heaven.Emily was annoyed at the situation, and she couldn’t hide it.She folded her arms and averted her gaze. She pressed her lips together in annoyance.She stayed silent.She saw Scott lean in, trying to find her gaze.She didn’t look at him.“Look, I get it—” Scott started.“Do you?” Emily cut him off. “What happened to appearing as a couple in public?”Scott leaned back and resigned.Emily glanced at him.Scott’s fac
“Scott is Ian’s half-brother and also rightful heir to the Hunter Legacy.” Her throat tightened. “He’s new in town.” Confusion flickered across her parents’ faces. She had no better way to explain it. “Scott, this is my mom and dad—Ruth and Thomas Everson.” She looked at Scott from the corner of
Scott watched Emily perch at the edge of her seat, pressed against the door. One hand rested on her chin as she stared out the window. Guarded. She was avoiding his gaze, avoiding any interaction. He wasn’t going to push. If only she knew how much he understood. Pain—he was no stranger to it. B
“You kissed him four times!” Rosa said, shocked. “Three!” Rosa shot Emily a quick glance before returning her eyes to the road. “Like that matters!” Emily knew it didn’t. Every time she got in a room with Scott— She shook the thought away. “It’s never happening again,” Emily said. “Mm-hmm.
Emily rushed into her office building.Nadine stood nervously at her office entrance.“She’s inside.”“How is she?”Nadine’s expression said everything.Emily had kept Sophia Delgado—CEO of Everdale Pottery—waiting over thirty minutes.She adjusted Rosa’s dress and entered. Nadine followed.Sophia







