#Chapter 25: See You in Court

(Violet’s POV) It took them less than twenty-four hours to come crawling. The morning after the Continental Court approved the trial, my estate—my estate—was flooded with messages. Requests. Begging. Threats wrapped in silk ribbons. The Ronan name was bleeding, and they were trying to stitch it with my spine. I stood at the grand window in my office, watching the sun rise over the eastern ridge. The light crept across the frost-dusted balcony, glinting off the iron railings I had commissioned. Every stone of this house had passed through my hands. Every room had been built, designed, or rebuilt because of me. And now? The people who once called me a mutt in whispers were trying to leash me again. Not a chance. Cathy burst in without knocking—of course she did. “You are not going to believe who just showed up at the gates.” “If it’s a messenger from the Ronans,” I said, without turning, “tell them I charge by the minute now.” She grinned. “Worse. It’s their butler. And