Chapter 49

• He watched as she emphasized her words, her voice laced with an urgency that revealed the raw nerves beneath her composed exterior. “I am the best match for you; you know this. Look at what we can build together! What Charlotte offers is fleeting; what I offer is a future.”
• “Charlotte is not ‘fleeing’ anywhere,” Damien shot back, instantly defensive. “She’s someone I have personal ties with, not just someone from a checklist of potential brides. Can’t you both understand that?”
• Edward leaned in closer, his demeanor shifting from authoritative to methodical. “Listen, Damien. You need to see this for what it is. She’s a distraction. You can’t afford that—not when we’re looking to establish connections that will secure the company’s standing in the community. You’re playing with fire.”