Dave talked seriously, thinking Skylar would agree. After all, she had made it clear she wasn’t interested in him and had expressed her desire for freedom, hadn’t she?

“Besides, I don’t want you to leave this empty-handed,” Dave continued. “I’ll make sure you’re financially secure, so you’ll never have to worry about money. And if you ever run into trouble, you can count on me for support.”

His real aim was to gain control of fifty percent of the Evans Group’s shares, securing his position as the top shareholder and the rightful successor to lead the company directly under Lucas.

With that power, he could face off against his uncles,...