LOGINJoseph understood what Albus was implying. The Kingstons needed a new heir. Anything less would likely leave Albus dissatisfied, no matter what else was offered.For years, the Kingstons had moved through Brimcrest without trouble, thanks in no small part to their close ties with the Huttons.That relationship could not be allowed to fracture. If necessary, the heir could be replaced.Joseph glanced at his younger son, who stood casually beside Diana, and let out a quiet breath.If the timing had been different, he might have considered putting Hugo forward for an arranged marriage.But an eight-year age gap was too much. Hugo wasn't the kind of man anyone could push into something against his will. And the Jillsons, with only one grandson to continue the bloodline, would never agree to him marrying a divorced woman, even if she was the Huttons' eldest daughter.All of it passed through Joseph's mind in an instant. When he finally spoke, his tone remained smooth and steady. "Of c
The words sounded clear enough on the surface.In practice, they told Diana very little. Only what already belonged to him. The portion of the Kingston assets that would eventually pass to him by right was his. But if he chose to fight for more, the entire Kingston family could become his.With the Jillsons backing him, his chances were far from slim.Leon had inherited his position in the first place only because of the engagement, and because Hugo had still been at university at the time. Their father's health had already been failing. The family had needed an heir, and circumstance had placed Leon in the role. It had been timing, not merit.Hugo caught the flicker of uncertainty in Diana's eyes and made no attempt to hide what he wanted."Is that all right?" he asked plainly."Of course it is." Diana smiled faintly. "It's your right as a Kingston."She had no place interfering. And despite Hugo's stubborn streak, his abilities were no less impressive than his brother's.The
The palm covering Hugo's eyes carried the same faint chill as everything else about Diana.Hugo blinked. As the coolness faded and his vision returned, he touched his earlobe with a faintly self-conscious gesture. "I'll... I'll go right now."'Still such a boy, really,' Diana thought.Hugo strode out, and Diana turned back to Helen.Helen lay on the floor, her plan in ruins, her face drained of color from the pain. Diana couldn't find any satisfaction in the sight. The blood running down Helen's legs was too stark for that.Sweat dampened Helen's face, fine beads gathering across her brow, but the pain had not robbed her of her voice. "Did you do something again? Where's Leon? Why did Hugo come instead of—""Diana!" Before she could finish, Hugo returned. His long, clean fingers closed lightly around Diana's wrist and drew her back a step. "The doctor's here."The attending physician already knew Helen's case, so they took her straight to the operating room.Diana watched the d
Nina moved to follow Diana inside when they reached the hospital.Diana glanced back. "Stay here. Get word to Julian."She didn't believe Helen would follow through on the threat. A card only held value as leverage when both sides stood on equal ground. The moment Helen played it, she would be signing her own death warrant.Even so, this involved Sydney. Even if the odds were one in ten thousand, Diana would not take the risk.It was better to have Julian alerted, just in case.Nina nodded and stayed behind while Diana went in alone."You came." Helen lay propped up in the hospital bed. At first glance, she genuinely looked pale. "I thought someone like you wouldn't have any soft spots.""She's my sister," Diana said. "Not a soft spot."To Diana, family was more like armor. It made her sharper, more cautious. It kept her from making mistakes.She dragged a chair over and sat without ceremony, crossing her long legs at the ankle with an air of calm patience. She looked less lik
Diana nodded to the organizers and stepped outside to take the call."Haven't you already gotten what you came for?" Her voice was cool and unhurried.Kneeling at the Hutton residence's gate had been a performance for Leon's benefit, nothing more. And Leon had believed every second of it."Diana," Helen began, her tone carefully measured. "I didn't have any ulterior motive. I just can't afford to lose my position at the Kingston Group. I know you're not a petty person. If you said a word to Leon's grandfather on my behalf, I could keep my job..."The voice was pitched perfectly to sound wronged and reasonable, which made it easy to overlook how unreasonable the request actually was. It was Helen's usual tactic, and it never failed with Leon.Unfortunately, Diana wasn't Leon."Is it the job you can't afford to lose, or is it Leon?" she asked, cutting straight through the act, "Helen, if you had even a shred of sense, you would have stopped coming to me after the first time."She
Leon told himself his conscience was clear, yet even as the words left his mouth, part of him already wanted to take them back.Not that it mattered. He knew Diana would never actually go through with it.There was no better match for her than him. In the entire city of Brimcrest, only one family could stand beside the Huttons as an equal: the Kingstons. Diana wasn't the kind of woman who settled for less.Which was why he was completely unprepared for what came next.She listened to him, and the tension drained from her face. "I'm glad you're willing to agree now. I'll find a few days this week to go back to Brimcrest."The response came clean and immediate, as though she feared he might change his mind before she finished speaking.Leon frowned. He had just started to speak when his assistant, Liam Johnstone, stepped forward with his head slightly lowered. "Mr. Kingston, it's Helen. She's calling from the hospital."Helen was alone in a hospital room. Leon didn't hesitate. He
Before Sydney could finish her sentence, the data finally came through. She and Marcus bent over the screen together, and in each other's eyes they saw the same look—relief and exhilaration mingled in perfect balance.The drug's approval for market release was virtually guaranteed.Marcus grinned.
Sydney was a doctor, but she rarely practiced what she preached. She could list off endless health tips for her patients, yet in her own life? Sweets, ice-cold drinks, spicy food, greasy food—whatever looked good, she ate it. So, occasional stomach discomfort was nothing new.Even so, Caleb couldn'
Julian's brow tightened. "Let her be. If she still falls for that, there's nothing I can do."'If she hadn't fallen for it back then, Caleb would never have deceived her so completely.' The thought made Julian's irritation flare.Before Elliot could respond, Julian pushed back his chair and said c
Caleb spoke with a hint of helplessness. "Can't you even accept a cake a friend brought over?""Fine." Sydney held the glass bottle in one hand and took the paper bag with the other. "Then I'll thank you on Tiffany's behalf too."After he left, Tiffany walked over, eyeing the items in Sydney's han







