Scarlet felt a surge of injustice.
âBut he clearly meant for me to please his client!â
âNonsense!â Cade roared.
âYou good-for-nothing! You jeopardized Bowenâs collaboration with his client.
All the effort I invested in you over these years has gone to waste! You canât even handle basic social etiquette! Now youâve tarnished your own reputation.
Which decent family would even consider you after this?â
Scarlet burned with indignation as her father berated her in public.
Tears welled in her eyes, yet she held her tongue, refraining from talking back at him.
Since her motherâs passing three years ago, her father had morphed into a domineering stranger, his actions increasingly disregarding her dignity.
Power.
His mind was consumed by the singular pursuit of acquiring it.
If he controlled her marriage, her life would be a gilded cage.
No, she wouldnât be a pawn in his game.
Sheâd find a suitable husband on her own terms.
âCade, thatâs uncalled for.
Scarlet is a beautiful young woman.
If a noble family isnât in the cards, then a suitable match from a smaller house could be arranged.
Iâll ask my wife to find some prospects tomorrow.
â Barnes offered the suggestion with a nonchalant shrug.
A flicker of darkness crossed Cadeâs eyes as he glanced at Barnes.
Was that⦠gloating?
The thought of his daughter marrying a nobody, unable to provide the kind of support he envisioned for his son, simmered in his gut.
âThis isnât your concern, Barnes,â Cade scoffed.
âFocus on your own sonâs affairs.
Lyndon marrying a single mother with a child? What were you thinking? Did you agree to this marriage because of the Larson familyâs power? Your son made quite a sacrifice in this situation.
â
He leaned forward, his voice dripping with malice.
âMy old friends get a kick out of it.
â
Barnesâ face turned gloomy.
Just as he opened his mouth to counter, Lyndon entered the room.
Bunny Bookery
âThe sounds of your whining could be heard from a mile away, Uncle Cade.
Such a behavior is unbecoming of you,â Lyndon sneered, a sardonic smile playing on his lips.
Cadeâs face contorted in anger as he turned to face him.
Lyndon entered with Tilda and the others in tow, his smile failing to reach his eyes.
âWell, Uncle Cade, it seems you are not aging gracefully.
Your limited perspective leads you to gossip like a society matron.
â
Cadeâs face contorted in fury, yet words deserted him.
âLyndon, Tilda, youâre back!â Brea greeted them warmly.
âHello, Brea,â Tilda responded.
âHi, Brea,â Sheldon chimed in.
Brea scooped Sheldon up in a hug, her touch tender as she ruffled his hair.
âSweetie, did the flight wear you out?â