Chapter 37

The morning after the Globex gala was torturous for Austin Miller. He’d spent the entire night tossing and turning in bed, the events of the previous evening replaying in his mind like a never-ending loop. Shame, rage, and disbelief warred inside him, keeping him wide awake even as exhaustion clung to every muscle in his body. When sleep finally found him, it was shallow and fleeting. Barely thirty minutes later, a sharp, relentless knocking jolted him from the fragile slumber. Groaning, Austin cursed under his breath and forced himself upright. His head throbbed and his eyes were gritty from lack of rest. He stumbled to the door and yanked it open, irritation ready to spill from his lips,until he saw who it was. His aunt. She stood in the hallway, immaculate as always in a sleek navy pantsuit, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. But it was her eyes that stopped him—sharp, blazing with fury he’d never seen aimed at him before. Disappointment etched every line of her face. "Auntie…