"Does Haynes know about your connection to the Williams family?"


    Ste shook her head. "No, he doesn''t."


    She began to recount how Haynes and Aurora had first met.


    Neville couldn''t help but chuckle at her story. "Well, if there''s any real friendship between Haynes and Aurora, it wouldn''t be surprising if the guest list gets shaken up. Given Jonathan''s rtionship with the Chapmans, changing the special guests would be as easy as snapping his fingers. And even though Lauretta''s a Chapman, she still has to follow the family''s decisions."


    Ste smiled faintly. "If Haynes is willing to trade in a favor just for Rachel, that''s not necessarily a bad thing. Being a special guest isn''t all that important, anyway. But if they use their connections to sabotage me at the concert, now that would be a real problem."


    Neville tried to reassure her. "You have Mr. Burton in your corner. I doubt they''d dare go too far."


    But Ste''s optimism had its limits. "The Burton family has Sherman, and he''s been circling, waiting for me to slip up. ording to Florrie, Sherman''s uncle is also quite taken with Aurora. The enemy of my enemy is my friend-they might even help Rachel just to spite me."


    She hadn''t harmed anyone, not really. Yet simply being epted into the Williams family-being recognized as their daughter-felt like an original sin.


    Neville''s voice softened. "Star, Rachel has Haynes, and Aurora has Sherman and his lot. But don''t forget-you have us."


    Ste was startled for a moment, then warmth spread through her chest.


    She nodded, firmly. "Yes. I still have all of you."


    ...


    The Wilkinson estate was aze with light that night.


    A man''s anguished cries echoed through the halls.


    "Stop! Dad, please, stop!"


    Galen''s breathing was ragged, his chest heaving in fury. "Oh, it hurts? Good! Maybe pain will teach you something, you disgrace!"


    With that, he raised the belt in his hand and brought it down hard on Jasper''s back.


    Ynde rushed to her son''s side, tears streaming down her face as she watched Jasper writhe on the floor in agony. She grabbed Galen''s arm, desperate. "Please, that''s enough! He didn''t mean to cause trouble. How could he have known the man was Mr. Burton?


    Galen yanked his arm free and shoved her aside. "It''s your fault-your coddling turned him into this! Because of him, the entire Wilkinson Group is staring down ruin!"


    Ynde, sniffling, wiped her tears away, feeling wronged. "How is any of this my fault? You always said Jasper was good-natured, that he''d made strong friends in Haynes and Foreman. And besides, wasn''t it Haynes'' first love, Rachel, that dragged Jasper into trouble with Mr. Burton in the first ce? If anyone''s to me, it''s Haynes and Rachel!"


    Galen sneered. "Oh, I see-you want the Wilkinson family to go underpletely, is that it? Fine, march over and pick a fight with Haynes right now. Let''s see you alienate thest person who might possibly help us. Then we''ll see whoes to our rescue!"


    Ynde fell silent, too frightened to speak.


    Galennded a few more blows on Jasper before his arm tired, but his anger hadn''t cooled. “Starting tomorrow, Jasper''s out—he''s stripped of every position in the Wilkinson Group. Marquis Wilkinson will take over all his responsibilities."


    He red down at his son, voice freezing cold. “And if you ever try to mess with Ste again, don''t me this family for cutting you off."


    Galen tossed the belt onto the floor and stormed out.


    He''d always known Jasper wasn''t cut out for running apany. If it weren''t for Haynes and Foreman''s support, he''d never have entrusted the business to him in the first ce. Jasper wasn''t his only son-why should he pin all his hopes on a fool?