Violet's mother's expression grew darker by the second. She let out a cold snort, her eyes glaring at Cyrus with open disdain.
"Him? What can he possibly give you?" she said sharply. "Now that the four great families have fallen, this is the perfect chance for our family to rise. You must marry Noah Miller to secure benefits for the family." Her tone was sharp and commanding, as though she were trying to etch her will into Violet's mind.
"Noah Miller?" Violet frowned, her mind racing to recall the name. She had heard of him before, but he left no strong impression on her.
"Noah is the son of Edward Miller, the governor of Millbrook City," Violet's mother said urgently, her eyes gleaming with ambition. "If you marry Noah, your career and our family will soar. We'll never have to bow to a
