At the g, Old Mr. Chapman personally took the stage to announce the


    engagement date for Lauretta and Jonathan. Ste did a quick calction; it was six months away. On stage, neither Lauretta nor Jonathan showed any of the bashful joy of a newly engaged couple. Their expressions were detached, as if the announcement was about someone else entirely.


    In the audience, Israel and Coleman stood together. "Coleman, have you dealt with that Violet Yancey yet?" Israel demanded. "Am I really going to have to get engaged to that crazy woman?"


    Israel had hoped the scandal would blow over, but the public hadn''t forgotten, and many were still waiting for him to announce his own engagement date. He thought time would make people lose interest, but there were still those who kept stirring the pot online.


    "We''ve located her," Coleman said, "but she''s well-protected. It''s been difficult to find an opportunity to act."


    Israel''s face darkened. "I don''t know what''s wrong with Leonardtely. He takes what we offer but doesn''t deliver! With his methods, getting rid of Violet should be a piece of cake. Now, even Aurora can''t get him to do anything."


    At the mention of Leonard, Coleman frowned. If even Aurora''s influence was failing, it meant Leonard''s state was more than just strange.


    Israel''s gaze swept across the room andnded on Sellers, who was standing with Aurora. He snorted. "They''re right. Leonard is just a useless cripple now. Asking him for help is less reliable than asking Sellers."


    "Sellers may be fond of Aurora," Coleman noted, "but he isn''t at her beck and call like Leonard is. To Sellers, Aurora is important, but not more important than his position as family head or other key interests."


    Sellers wouldn''t get his hands dirty for Aurora the way Leonard would. Even when Sellers detested Ste, he had never considered kidnapping her to destroy her hands. Nor would he immediately eliminate a problem for Aurora the moment she felt wronged as Leonard would It wasn''t that Sellers couldn''t solv such problems, but he would always weigh the pros and cons first.


    Leonard''s absolute, if extreme, devotion to Aurora was unique, but his methods were unptable. Neither Skyler nor Jonathan liked him. Sellers, who was more rational than emotional, was far more eptable to the Williams family. Leonard was a mad dog that only Aurora could leash. A man like him could be a sharp weapon if used correctly, but if mishandled, he could easily turn on his master.


    Ste and Joshua were standing in a quiet corner nearby. Joshua''s eyes scanned


    the two Williams brothers. "Star," he said suddenly, "want to see a good show?"


    "What kind of show?" Ste asked.


    A sly smile touched his lips. "A show that will finish Israel for good." Israel might not be a major threat


    getting bitten by him


    anymore, but getting


    was still annoying. It was better to put him down for good so he couldn''t run around causing trouble. Cóntent


    Just as he spoke, a crisp female voice cut through the air from the entrance.


    "Israel, your brother and Ms. Chapman have already announced their engagement. When are you going to announce ours and take responsibility for me?"


    All heads turned in shock toward the doorway. A slender, beautiful woman stood


    there, d in a fiery red dress. Her features were striking, and her slightly arched eyebrows gave her a sharp, formidable look.