Chapter 497

• Violet and I stayed up late talking well past the point when the city lights outside dimmed and the quiet of the capital settled in. Since her time navigating the high-stakes corporate battles at the Southern Frontier venture, Violet had changed. Living here had exposed her to the tangled politics and power plays of the elite families, far beyond the simple life we once knew in Meadow Ridge.
• Back in Meadow Ridge, life had been easy too easy, honestly. Our days were filled with harmless mischief: walking dogs, teasing the neighborhood cats, chasing off troublemakers. The biggest challenge was usually some petty rivalry with rival business apprentices. Nothing compared to the ruthless ambition and calculated moves of this city’s elite.
• I was just about to drift off when Violet, half-asleep, casually swung her leg over me and yawned. “I seriously envy you, Cassandra. Having Lady Helen as your mother-in-law is like having a VIP pass to the top. She’s fiercely protective of you.”