Cassie did not flinch. She knew Franklin too well to doubt that he wouldn't bend under this kind of pressure from his mother.
His loyalty, his principles, and his unwavering sense of control made him predictable in ways no outsider could anticipate.
"With all due respect, Mom, Franklin isn't here right now," Cassie said calmly, her voice steady, controlled. "Let him come and choose between me and her."
Genevieve's gaze lingered on Cassie, studying her like one might a rare painting, simple, yet layered with complexity.
She had an elegance that didn't scream for attention, a confidence that was quiet but impossible to ignore. Beautiful, yes, but it was her self-assurance that left a subtle sting of envy.
"Mom," the woman beside her, Angel, whispered, nearly trembling as she
