The penthouse suite of the Sterling-owned hotel was a sanctuary of silence, save for the rhythmic patter of rain against the floor-to-ceiling windows. Clara sat comfortably on the plush velvet sofa, a cup of Earl Grey tea warming her hands, while Arthur stood behind her, his broad chest pressing lig

The Vance family estate sat on a sprawling three-acre plot overlooking the city’s affluent northern hills. Once, to Clara, the towering wrought-iron gates and the imposing limestone facade had represented a legacy of hard work and prestige. Now, as her armored Maybach glided smoothly up the long, wi

Thunder rattled the floor-to-ceiling windows of the penthouse suite, the torrential downpour outside blurring the neon skyline into streaks of weeping color. Inside, the atmosphere was a stark contrast to the storm. A fire crackled warmly in the marble hearth, casting a soft, golden glow over the im