LI

only filled with the soft scrat

tongue sticking out in concentration a

h other at one of the low tables, the silence betw

of my sweater, still speckled wi

y composed, her green eyes scanning th

e the silence. "H

d to Andy. He was drawing what looke

lowing hard. "

eyes. "You've done well with him, Julia. I

hough I knew she d

tinued. "When I saw your name, I

nson," she

ready knew since

You have an incredibly common name, you know that

she just said the same thing as

oat, desperate to change th

?" I asked, not being ab

me one of the heads of Astor Empires. Shouldn't y

to tuck a strand of brown hair behind her ear, a move

she said

"You left

ay. From a

pressure. I didn't want tha

now with the woman in front of me. Eleonor Cassidy Astor,

around the room. "Working with kids, making a

ring my voice. "So...you're not

ith Eva

. Ellie must have noticed because her eyes nar

aid, tilting her head before

she gasped, clapping a hand over her

quickly, but i

hat you're

s, the same smile. And don't think I didn't notice his nam

nk," I said, but my vo

ith disbelief. "I can't believe this! That

I said, a littl

ecause it's not good, Jul

t kept my expr

h confirmed it. The two of

d firmly, folding my

if we haven't met in years, it still felt the same. She was the o

k, crossing

muttering a string of curses under her breath. It was so g

awing, his brow furrowed. "

thing, sweetie. Just

is work, thankfully satis

he watched him. "Sorry about that," she whisper

. "Like you said, I raised

occurred to her, making her exclaim, "Oh, that r

"Sir Garyn?

s. "He's obsessed with the idea of an heir. You

twisted.

ding Evan about it. It's ridiculous, honestly. L

pped. "He ne

slightly. "Why are you-" She stopp

ly, but my panic must

tting up straighter. "

tight. "You can't tell h

ening and closing as she tried

rse I won't. It's not like h

looded t

d. "Please make sure