The champagne flute shattered against the marble floor before I could stop myself. Seven years. Seven years since I'd seen my sister Emma's face, and this was how she chose to reappear—draped on the arm of a man whose smile I recognized from exactly three photographs. Photographs I'd studied obsessively while watching our father's company collapse. "Surprise!" Emma squealed, her voice echoing through the foyer of our family estate. She hadn't changed much—still blonde, still beautiful, still completely oblivious to the destruction that followed her wherever she went. But it was the man beside her who held my attention. Tall, impeccably dressed in a charcoal suit that probably cost more than most people's monthly rent. His dark eyes swept the room with the calculating gaze of someone who knew exactly how much everything was worth. "This is Chase Moreland," Emma announced, thrusting her left hand forward. A diamond the size of a quail egg caught the chandelier light. "My fiancé!" The floor seemed to tilt beneath my feet. Chase Moreland. The venture capitalist who'd orchestrated the hostile takeover of Montgomery Technologies three years ago. The man whose signature had been on the documents that stripped our father's legacy away piece by piece. The reason Dad had died of a heart attack at his desk, surrounded by bankruptcy papers. And my sister was engaged to him. "Congratulations," I managed, my voice steadier than I felt. I stepped forward, crunching glass beneath my heels. "I'm Violet. Emma's older sister." Chase extended his hand, his grip firm and confident. "The mysterious Violet. Emma's told me so much about you." "Funny," I said, holding his gaze. "She's told me absolutely nothing about you." Emma laughed, that tinkling sound that used to charm everyone. "Oh, Vi, don't be dramatic. I sent emails! You never responded." Because I'd been too busy keeping this estate from being sold off to pay Dad's debts. Too busy building my own consulting firm from nothing. Too busy surviving while she'd been gallivanting across Europe, posting Instagram photos from Santorini and Paris. "When did you two meet?" I asked, releasing Chase's hand. "About a year ago, at a charity gala in Monaco," Emma said, practically glowing. "It was love at first sight." A year ago. Right around the time Chase's firm had finished liquidating the last assets of Montgomery Technologies. "How romantic," I said. "Please, come in. Mother's in the garden. She'll be thrilled to see you." I led them through the house I'd fought to keep, watching Chase's eyes catalog every painting, every antique, every visible sign of old money. He moved like a shark through water—smooth, purposeful, always calculating. "This place is incredible," he said. "Emma mentioned your family had history, but this is remarkable." "Yes," I replied. "Four generations of Montgomerys built their lives here. Built their businesses here. Left their legacies here." Something flickered in his expression—too quick to identify. Guilt? Recognition? Or was I projecting what I wanted to see? Emma grabbed his arm. "We were hoping to have the wedding here! Isn't that perfect? I always dreamed of getting married in the rose garden." The rose garden where we'd scattered Dad's ashes. "Of course," I heard myself say. "We'd be honored." Emma hugged me, and over her shoulder, I caught Chase watching me with an expression I couldn't quite read. Curiosity, maybe. Or assessment. He had no idea who I really was. No idea that Violet Montgomery, the grieving daughter, had spent the last three years building a consulting firm that specialized in corporate restructuring. No idea that my clients included half the board members of his own investment firm. No idea that I'd been waiting for exactly this opportunity. "How long are you staying?" I asked as Emma finally released me. "As long as it takes to plan the perfect wedding," Emma said. "Chase can work remotely, and I'm between projects. We thought maybe three months?" Three months. Perfect. "Welcome home," I said, smiling at my sister. Then I turned to Chase. "Welcome to the family." ---