He narrowed his eyes, watching Edith disappear into the study before speaking in a cool, measured tone. “If Beckett keeps barging into Hawksley Tower, causing scenes again and again, and we let it slide, people will start thinking this ce is just a yground where anyone can make trouble.”

That was all his assistant needed to hear–he knew exactly what to do.

Deal with Beckett, and make it strict.

Beckett never saw iting. He’d shown up at Hawksley Tower ready ito /istir up trouble, but ended up getting himself hauled down to the police station.

Lately, it felt like he was practically a regr there.

It took a mountain of favors and hours of wrangling before Beckett finally managed to get himself released, long after night had fallen.

As he was leaving, one of the officers gave him a pointed warning. “Next time you show up at Hawksley Group to cause problems, you won’t be walking out so easily. This was just a verbal warning. Next time, you might not get off so lightly.”

There was no way Beckett was going back to Hawksley Group. Getting out this time had already stretched his connections to the limit.

He wasn’t about to risk it again.

The moment he left the station, all Beckett’s anger zeroed in on Edith.

The partnership between Hawksley Group and Pioneer Prime had been a done deal–until Edith meddled. Suddenly, Hawksley Group cut off all cooperation. He thought about how the Sumner and Hawksley families had known each other for years. Edith must have gone to Hawksley to whisper in their ear, all because the Vance family had thrown her out. She was clearly out for revenge.

With everything going on with Jeffry as well, Beckett was convinced Edith was acting out of spite.

Seething, Beckett sat in his car, mming his fists against the steering wheel until it let out a shrill protest.

Staring into the pitch–ck night, he muttered, “Edith, if you’d just behaved yourself, once Salome’s baby was born, I was nning to bring you back to the Vance family. But if you insist on causing trouble, don’t me me when things get ugly for you.”

17:58

He pictured Edith’s tear–streaked face when she finally realized he was Beckett, begging to return to the Vance family. The thought satisfied him. “This is the lesson you deserve, Edith.”

Night deepened.

Just after her shower, Edith suddenly sneezed.

Justin, hearing her, quickly raised the thermostat a few degrees, then beckoned her

over.

Edith pointed to her dripping hair. She needed to head back ito /ithe bathroom to blow it dry. Otherwise, she’d leave water all over the bedroom floor.

Justin gestured to the little armchair by the bed. “Sit here. I’ll help iyou/i.”

Edith blinked, caught off guard for a moment, then obeyed, settling onto the chair while Justin retrieved the hair dryer.

Warm air swept through her damp hair, carrying not only the scent of her shampoo, but also the faint trace of the cologne she’d chosen for Justin days ago.

She nced up at him, her eyes lighting with surprise. “You’re wearing the cologne I gave you?”

Justin hesitated, then nodded.

It was a lie–a harmless one. He was actually using a custom blend, one that didn’t.

include the ingredients he was allergic to.

His strong, graceful fingersbed through her hair, the wet strands gliding against. his dry palm.

Fifteen minutester, Edith’s hair was dry and silky smooth.

The warmth that filled the air wrapped around her cheeks, and when Justin leaned in to kiss her, she hardly noticed the room had grown even warmer.

A little slow to react, she offered up her lips. As their mouths met, Justin murmured against