Margaret's jaw went slack.

Shock and confusion warred within her.

She could never have imagined Theodore's obsession.

It was with Evelyn.

Of all the women in the world.

What dark magic did that cunning witch possess?

How did she enchant so many powerful men?

Margaret felt a cold dread settle in her stomach.

She was backed into a corner.

The stakes were impossibly high.

She had no room for negotiation.

Her son's freedom was on the line.

She would do anything to save Harrison.

"Very well, Mr. Vance," Margaret said, her voice tight. "I agree to your terms. You have my solemn promise. I will take care of it."

Their discussion continued, sharp and clipped.

Then Margaret swept from the room.

Daniel watched her go, his face a mask of confusion.

He turned to Theodore. "Harrison nearly killed Ms. Blackwood. You can't seriously intend to honor this deal. To set him free?"

Theodore let out a low, humorless laugh.

A smirk played on his lips.

"Of course, I intend to honor it," he said smoothly. "Have I ever been a man who breaks his word?"

Daniel's unease only grew.

He remembered the price Cassandra paid.

Her attempt to ruin Evelyn's career cost her everything.

Would Theodore truly let Harrison walk away unscathed?

The air in the room turned icy.

Theodore's expression darkened.

A glacial malice filled his eyes.

"But I never promised Margaret her son would evade his fate, did I?" His voice was a razor's edge.

Each word was deliberate and cold.

He smiled, a cruel, predatory curve of his mouth.

"Besides, it's so difficult to arrange an accident while he's behind bars. Once he's out in the world... things become much simpler."

A violent shiver racked Daniel's body.

An icy fear gripped his heart.

Theodore's ruthlessness was unchanged.

It was as sharp and deadly as ever.

Witnessing it again, Daniel understood with terrifying clarity.

Crossing Theodore Vance was a death sentence.

And Alexander Blackwood was no exception.

Not after he had taken the one woman Theodore coveted above all others.

Steam filled the spacious bathroom.

Evelyn sank deeper into the hot water.

It soothed her tired muscles.

The foggy air mirrored the chaos in her mind.

Fragments of the evening's reunion played behind her eyes.

Each memory left her more bewildered.

When she married Alexander, she had prepared for a life of struggle.

She was ready to shoulder his massive debts.

But the reality was a shocking contrast.

The extravagant gifts.

The designer gown.

The rare wine.

The exquisite perfume.

None of it fit the narrative of a ruined man.

Evelyn's brow furrowed in deep thought.

If Alexander wasn't the destitute failure rumors claimed, then why?

Why did he agree to her impulsive marriage proposal?

The question haunted her.

It looped endlessly in her head.

Was it possible?

Could he have fallen for her at first sight?

The thought sent heat rushing to her cheeks.

The blush deepened, mixing with the steam from the bath.

Her face felt impossibly warm.

She lost herself in a whirlwind of theories.

Each one was more confusing than the last.

A sudden movement flickered in her peripheral vision.

Her blood ran cold.

A piercing scream tore from her throat.

It was a raw, instinctual cry of terror.

Alexander sat in his wheelchair by the bedroom door.

His face was an unreadable mask.

His assistant was reporting on Theodore's recent activities.

"Mr. Vance received several visitors tonight," the assistant said. "Many were seeking his favor. But he granted a private audience to only one. I found that particularly interesting."

"Who was it?" Alexander's voice was calm, devoid of emotion.

The assistant opened his mouth to answer.

Evelyn's scream shattered the quiet.

It echoed down the hallways.

Sharp.

Panicked.

Utterly terrified.