Tarquin said,

    "You think everyone gets married for love? In high society, most marriages are just business deals."

    "If Beatrix ends up with Keaton, whether she''s happy or not, the Suttons will definitely cash in."

    With that, Tarquinced his fingers through Elysia''s, a small smile on his lips.

    He knew he was lucky to have found real love.

    Elysia frowned.

    "If the Suttons are ying games, is there any way to stop them?"

    "There is, as long as Keaton is willing to tell the truth and stand up for himself," Tarquin replied. "But if he''s already given up and insists he''s guilty, no one can help him."

    Elysia shook her head, confused.

    "But why would he want to take the me?"

    "...Let''s check on Beatrix first."

    When they reached the living room, Beatrix was still holding a kitchen knife to her throat.

    Her eyes were red as she yelled at her parents,

    "Stop pushing me! Maybe you don''t care about your reputation, but I do! Do you really think I have no other choice but him?"

    "He doesn''t like me, I don''t like him. He doesn''t want to marry me, I don''t want to marry him. If you keep pushing me—if you keep pushing him—I swear I''ll end it right here!"

    Her mother, sobbing, pleaded,

    "Sweetheart, just put the knife down. Please listen to me, anything happens to you, how am I supposed to go on?"

    Sophus Sutton''s face was stone-cold.

    ey-put it down. If

    "We''re just trying to get you justice! Keaton hurt you shouldn''t he be responsible?!"

    Beatrix cried out,

    "Keaton isn''t like that! That night, it wasn''t what you think—"

    "No matter what happened, the fact is he hurt you! He should be held ountable!" Sophus snapped.

    Tears streamed down Beatrix''s face.

    "I don''t want him to take responsibility! He doesn''t love me—I told you I won''t be happy if I marry him! If you keep pushing this, I''ll do something you''ll regret!"

    She turned to Richard and Janelle,

    "Mr. Huber, Janelle, please don''t me him for this anymore. I''m not going to press charges. I''m not going to involve the police."

    Sophus growled,

    "Beatrix, don''t-"

    "Don''t push me!" she screamed.

    Her grip tightened-suddenly, the knife nicked her neck and blood started trickling down.

    Screams filled the living room.

    Tarquin was quick: he grabbed a heavy bookend from the mantel and knocked the knife from her hand.

    Beatrix cried out in pain and dropped the knife, clutching her wrist.

    "Beatrix!" her mother rushed to her side.

    "Call a doctor! Someone, please!" Janelle shouted.

    Elysia hurried over, checking the wound.

    "Don''t worry, it''s not deep. Janelle, do you have a first aid kit?"

    "Yes!" Janelle called, signaling the housekeeper.

    Elysia quickly cleaned and bandaged Beatrix''s neck, speaking softly,

    "Ms. Sutton, let''s talk this out, okay? Don''t do anything drastic."

    Tears still streaming, Beatrix nodded,

    "Thank you, Ms. Thorne."

    "You''re wee. Try not to get the bandage wet and take it easy for a bit, alright?"

    "Okay."

    Elysia

    goped her to her feet. Beatrix

    turned to Richard and Janelle ande a deep, shaky bow, then ran

    from the room.

    Her mother hurried after her, calling,

    "Beatrix!"

    Sophus, out of options, let out a heavy sigh and shot Richard a furious re before storming out.

    The room fell silent. Richard and Janelle looked even more devastated.

    Richard slumped into a chair,

    "We owe her. The Hubers can''t just let this go-we have to make it right."

    Janelle buried her face in her hands, sobbing.

    Even though Beatrix said she wouldn''t pursue it, Janelle still felt awful-she knew this wasn''t over. The Suttons hadn''t given up, and that damning video was still out there.

    It was a ticking time bomb.

    Elysiaforted Janelle, while Winona stood quietly in the corner, her heels clicking on the hardwood as she watched Beatrix disappear down the hall, lost in thought...