Chapter 2

I stood there with the gold dinnerware in my arms, stunned.

"What do you mean?"

Morwen gave a soft laugh.

"Of course I had to keep you happy before I married into the Colin family.

"Everyone knows Ron treats you like his own sister. If I'd upset you, a few words from you could've killed the whole match."

She casually took the box from my arms and dropped it on the table.

"But it's different now.

"I'm married to the Colin family heir now."

I raised an eyebrow.

"So?"

Morwen seemed amused by my reaction.

"So?

"Ron runs everything in the Colin family, from the money to the men.

"Every man in the family listens to him. When something goes wrong, they go to him. What do you have besides the Colin name?"

She leaned down to look at me.

"Do you really think using that seal every January first makes you the Colin family's heir?"

I looked up.

Morwen laughed even harder.

"Ron told me everything.

"The Don spoiled you. He didn't want you feeling ashamed that you couldn't do anything, so he made up a little ritual to keep you happy.

"And you actually believed it?"

I opened my mouth, but for a moment, I didn't even know where to start.

So that was what Ron had thought the seal meant all these years.

Morwen mistook my silence for humiliation.

She pulled a card out of her bag and waved it in front of my face.

"I'll hold on to this for you."

I looked closer. It was my bank card.

Worried I'd have trouble paying for things when I was out, my grandfather had a custom card made for me that worked all over the world.

With it, I could buy anything, anywhere.

"Why?"

Morwen leaned back on the couch.

"A single girl like you blowing tens of thousands a month? That's way too wasteful.

"Ron works hard for his money. From now on, you'll get an allowance of 1,000 a month. That's plenty for makeup."

Now I was even more confused.

"I'm spending my own money."

The smile on Morwen's face turned into a sneer.

"Your money?

"Have you ever been part of a single deal all these years?

"Without Ron smoothing things over for you, the Colin family's name would've been mud a long time ago."

I scoffed.

Morwen had barely married into the Colin family, and already she thought she could order me around as the heir's wife.

She'd even convinced herself that Ron had earned every cent we had.

I was about to say so when she brought out another file.

It was page after page of itemized expenses, with a figure marked in red on the last page.

Ninety-three point two million euros.

"From the antique porcelain you broke when you were five to the art show you held last year, here's every cent Ron has spent on you.

"Forget the loose change.

"Ninety million."

I flipped through a couple of pages.

It wasn't just my everyday expenses.

It also included the Colin family's arms purchases, its annual informant relocation costs, and even the cost of setting up the safe houses two years ago.

It was so absurd I almost laughed.

Then Morwen produced a business card from her bag.

"He's the Kellis family heir. I asked around for you.

"He's willing to pay ninety million to marry you.

"If you agree, that covers the debt in full."

I looked up.

"Who said you could make decisions for me?"

"This is all for your own good."

Morwen touched her stomach and gave me a knowing smile.

"Once you're married, it'll be time for Ron and me to have kids of our own.

"Ron can teach them to shoot and check the books while they're little.

"That's better than leaving the Colin family to someone who can't even find the casino."

Now I understood.

She didn't just want to control my money.

She wanted to push me out of the family and have her own child take my place.

I picked up the business card and tore it in half in front of her.

"Morwen.

"I am the only heir to the Colin family.

"You don't get to run my life."

Morwen's face darkened.

"Heir?"

She advanced on me slowly.

"How many informants do you know? How many contract negotiations have you sat in on? You can't even name the capos.

"You only have that title because your family spoils you."

The butler called from the doorway, "Mrs. Colin, watch what you say!"

Graham, the butler who'd cared for me since I was little, saw the bills on the table and the torn business card. His face hardened.

"Ron works on the Princess's behalf. What you're doing is completely out of line."

Morwen gave him a cold look.

"On her behalf?

"How long are you people going to keep telling that bedtime story?

"Ron has carried the whole Colin family for ten years. What kind of heir is a princess who can't do anything?"

Graham frowned and stepped forward.

"Ron only gets to serve as underboss every year because..."

"Shut up."

Morwen cut him off.

"Guards, throw this old man out."

I immediately stepped in front of Graham.

"Nobody touches him."

Morwen stared at me, and the last of her smile disappeared.

She grabbed my wrist and slapped the IOU onto the table.

"Sorrel Colin, have I been too nice to you?

"You're going to sign this today."

She forced my hand toward the ink pad.

Just as I tried to wrench my wrist free, an angry voice rang out from the doorway, "Morwen! What are you doing?!"