Chapter 19
The rain fell heavily that night, dripping on the windows like the footsteps of a thousand impatient people knocking on the door. A chill crept into the Vale family's great room, but that chill was nothing compared to the truth Elara had just heard from Evelyn Vale's own mouth.
The woman sat in a velvet-covered chair, her face pale, her sharp eyes now looking tired. To Elara, Evelyn wasn't just a mother-in-law. She was the one who held all the keys to the Vale family secrets, and tonight, one secret was finally revealed.
"Damien..." Evelyn took a deep breath, as if every word that came out was a sin she had to confess, "he should be the heir to the Vale family. Not Adrian."
Those words hit Elara's chest like a hammer. Her heart skipped a beat, so fast that she felt her body
