Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 231 - Chapitre 240

The atmosphere at Miles Estate had changed by the time they returned. Shannon noticed the additional vehicle outside immediately. "Who's here?"Sean looked toward it. "Don't know."Aria was still carrying a small box of sweets she'd somehow convinced the restaurant to package for her.Shannon walked inside first. "Dad?"Voices came from the sitting room. Kennedy's, Amelia's and another man's.Shannon slowed.Sean noticed. His hand touched the small of her back. "You okay?"She nodded then they entered.Mr. Voss was speaking when he saw her. He stopped completely.Shannon stopped too.Amelia turned. The moment she saw Shannon, her expression softened.Kennedy stood from his chair. "You're back."But Mr. Voss didn't seem to hear him. He was staring at Shannon, his granddaughter, not a photograph, not a video, not a frozen image on a screen, her, alive, standing a few feet away. For several seconds, the elderly man said nothing then his eyes filled. "Oh..."Amelia looked toward her fathe

Sean looked between the two older men. For once, even he seemed uncertain which instruction was safest.Mr. Voss looked at him. "You intend to marry my granddaughter.""Yes, sir.""Then sit."Sean sat.Kennedy's eyes widened. "Sean.""Sorry, Mr. Miles." Sean adjusted his jacket. "Your daughter's grandfather asked me to stay."Kennedy stared at him.Sean kept his face perfectly serious.Aria whispered: "Supreme Court ruling."Shannon snorted.Kennedy looked toward her and she immediately became quiet.Mr. Voss sat opposite Sean. "Now." He studied him. "I've seen enough headlines about my granddaughter today to know that your family doesn't want her."Sean's expression changed.Mr. Voss continued. "Your father called her a divorcee."Sean's jaw tightened."He ordered her out of Vale Group because Kennedy is coming after him, and he told you whatever relationship you have with Shannon should end."Sean's face hardened. "He can say whatever he wants."Mr. Voss leaned back. "Can he?"Sean

Sean took a breath. "I'll become Sean Miles because I want to build a family with Shannon, not because I'm ashamed of being born Sean Vale." His eyes moved toward Shannon. "And I'll stand with her because she's the woman I love, not because somebody forced me to prove it by destroying everyone else I ever loved."Shannon's eyes filled.Aria looked down.Mr. Voss remained silent for several seconds then slowly he nodded.Sean blinked.Kennedy looked toward him.Mr. Voss stood. "That was the answer I wanted."Sean stared. "You could've mentioned that before making me question my entire existence."Mr. Voss smiled faintly. "No."Aria finally spoke. "I like Grandpa."Kennedy immediately frowned. "He's not your grandfather."Aria shrugged. "Grandpa in law.""There hasn't even been a wedding.""Future Grandpa in law."Mr. Voss laughed.Kennedy looked around the room as though searching for someone sane, he found no one. Then his eyes landed on Sean.The boy had refused him again, but this t

The world had buried Silas Miles once. He had found the experience surprisingly useful. Death, he'd learned, was an excellent way to make people stop looking for you.No creditors, no prosecutors, no surviving relatives asking questions, no journalists digging through records, no nephew wondering whether the uncle convicted of murdering his grandfather had truly taken his final breath behind prison walls.For years, Silas had lived comfortably inside that lie. Different name, different documents, different country when necessary and enough legitimate businesses layered over enough illegitimate ones that very few people knew exactly where his money began or ended.His office occupied the highest floor of a private building registered to a company that technically belonged to another company three jurisdictions away.No photographs decorated the walls, no family, no memories. Silas had never been sentimental.He stood near the window now, one hand resting lightly against the head of hi

One night became two. Nobody formally discussed the second, then three.Mr. Voss's luggage arrived, Amelia's followed. Aria already had enough belongings at Miles Estate that nobody knew whether she'd ever technically moved in or simply colonized several rooms over time.Sean discovered that if he returned late enough from Vale Group and early enough the next morning, Shannon could convincingly argue that making him drive back and forth was unnecessary.Kennedy discovered this loophole approximately twenty four hours too late.By the fourth morning, he walked into the breakfast room and found Sean already seated, again."Why are you here?"Sean looked up from his coffee. "Good morning, Mr. Miles.""I asked a question.""I slept here."Kennedy frowned.Shannon entered behind him. "Dad."Kennedy turned.She smiled.His argument died before it began.Sean watched this happen. Slowly a smile spread across his face.Across the table, Amelia hid a smile behind her cup, Mr. Voss unfolded his