Chapter 4

By the time Lucien arrived, the meeting had been suspended. I braced myself against the table's edge, blood soaking through my pants.

Sophia covered her face. "Lucien, Emily tried to grab the recorder and ruined the succession meeting. The Carter old guard nearly started a riot."

She held out her arm, showing a scratch.

Lucien walked up to me. "Apologize."

I stared at him, fists white-knuckled. "The recording was overwritten. Sophia did it deliberately."

He didn't hesitate—frowned and shot back, "The fire traumatized you. Now you're paranoid about everyone."

I pointed at the sound console. "Check the original import log. Check the system's back-end surveillance."

The sound engineer spoke up helpfully: "The local device still has a temporary cache. If we export it now, we might be able to recover the original file."

Sophia's face shifted. She hurried over and clutched Lucien's sleeve.

"Don't. The succession meeting involves too many parties. If this gets out, both the Carter and Blake families will be humiliated."

"It won't look good for Emily either."

Lucien nodded, gazing at Sophia with open tenderness. "After everything she's done to you, you're still thinking about her."

I gripped the table's edge, cold sweat dripping, and before I could speak, Lucien cut me off again.

He looked at me. His voice was ice.

"Several major families had representatives here today. The Carter old guard is outside waiting for a result."

"If the meeting stalls, the Carter family will spiral out of control immediately."

"Emily, you can make a scene later. But not today."

Bodyguards escorted me out through the back. Every family representative watched me go.

I glanced down at my phone screen. The recording was still running.

What Sophia had whispered in my ear earlier was half-drowned by the applause—but I'd captured it.

Half an hour later, the Blake family released a public statement.

The original heir is incapacitated. Sophia will assume interim management of the Carter North Port line.

After dark, the internal livestream began.

Sophia sat at the head of the long table, receiving oaths of allegiance from the Carter old guard. Lucien sat front row, lending her his authority.

A message from Lucien popped up on my phone.

[I'll have someone try to recover the recording. Let it go. Sophia had a hard day too.]

I placed my phone face-down on the table.

I went back to the old docks and printed a dissolution of engagement statement and a formal withdrawal from the Carter family.

I sold my father's pocket watch and used the money to pay the Carter old guard their final month of settlement fees.

Daniel stood outside the door, eyes rimmed red.

"You're really leaving?"

I placed the silver bells and the empty shell of the recorder into a cardboard box. Sealed it.

"If I stay any longer, I won't be able to hear my own voice anymore."

He took two steps forward, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Emily. Come with me."

I paused.

Daniel smiled ruefully. "I know the timing's wrong. I just want you to know—you're not limited to being chosen or discarded by Lucien."

I didn't look at him.

"Daniel, don't say this when I'm at my lowest."

He stepped back immediately. "Okay. I won't."

I put the box and a photocopy of the loyalty roster into my bag.

Years ago, my father had been paranoid I'd lose the original. Made me copy it.

At the time I thought he was being excessive.

Now that copy was the lifeline he'd left me.

On the way to the station, Lucien called over a dozen times. I rejected every one.

Standing at the ticket gate, I sent one final message.

[Lucien, the engagement is over. From today on, you'll never have to recognize me again.]