Victoria Vane stood frozen in the open doorway of the grand library for three long, agonizing seconds. Her cold, dark eyes glared back at Clara and the three brothers with absolute hatred and bitter defeat.

"You may have secured the estate, but the Manhattan Elite Board will never recognize a multi-partner union," Victoria warned them, her voice shaking with pure malice before she turned on her heel and vanished down the long hallway forever.

The quiet that followed her departure was soft, warm, and sweet. The heavy shadow that had hung over Vance Manor for twenty years was finally lifted.

Clara leaned her back against Lucian's broad chest, feeling the...