Cracks in the Empire
“Finally,” Chloe whispered to herself, the gleam in her eyes matching the sparkle of the diamond necklace she had clasped hastily around her throat. She stood before her mirror, lips stretched into a triumphant smile, painting a fresh coat of crimson lipstick across her mouth.
Finally, her patience, her endless tears, her humiliation, her forced silence was paying off.
The Langfords had turned against the very children they once claimed as heirs. The fortress that had felt untouchable was crumbling from within, and Chloe, ever the opportunist, was ready to dance in its ruins.
She hummed under her breath, slipping into her heels, recalling the way Lady Bianca’s voice had cracked when she spat the truth: They are not mine. Marcus’s cold agreement still echoed like a
