Chapter 7

Thalia sat opposite Caroline, meeting her gaze with quiet composure. “I never wanted to marry into the Ashcroft family.”

Caroline didn't believe a word. She studied Thalia carefully. This was the girl her son had been dating for three years. Pretty enough, she had to admit, and well-presented. Despite her middle-class background, she lacked the obvious social-climbing desperation Caroline usually encountered.

Caroline had deliberately thrown out that barb earlier, hoping to see her squirm. But the girl hadn't flinched, maintaining her poise and speaking with surprising confidence. It didn't matter, though. Just another gold-digger with delusions of grandeur, no matter how well she played it.

“No need to pretend with me,” Caroline’s voice dripped with condescension. “I’m a woman too—I know exactly what you’re thinking. Drake’s quite the catch, isn’t he? A trust fund baby who’s been bankrolling your lifestyle. Must be nice.”

“I don’t want his money,” Thalia replied.

Caroline’s laugh was cold. “Please. You social climbers are all the same. Playing hard to get while taking everything you can. Why else would you be with Drake?”

Thalia smiled. “Mrs. Ashcroft, are you suggesting your son has nothing to offer except his trust fund?”

“How dare you!” Caroline gasped. “Such insolence! Drake said you were sweet and accommodating. Clearly, he was mistaken.”

Thalia calmly sipped her tea.

“And no manners,” Caroline sneered. “Not even offering tea to your elder.”

Thalia’s smile was pure ice. “My apologies, Mrs. Ashcroft. I assumed you wouldn’t want to drink from anything in my modest apartment. Wouldn’t want to lower your standards.”

Caroline was seething. Where had Drake found this insufferable girl? Taking a calming breath, she continued. “Let me be clear: The Ashcroft family isn’t open to just anyone. Marrying Drake? Not happening.”

“Mm-hmm,” Thalia murmured.

“Sienna is my choice for a daughter-in-law. Her family has known ours for generations. She was Drake’s first love. Save yourself the embarrassment and step aside.”

Thalia’s lips curved slightly. She remembered overhearing Drake’s phone call about Ashcroft Capital’s liquidity crisis, how their projects were stalling, hemorrhaging money. She’d considered helping. Though Drake clearly had no intention of marriage, three years of dating meant something. She could have arranged investment through her channels. That’s why she’d gone to the bar that night—to discuss possibly investing in Ashcroft Capital. Her father wouldn’t help, given their estrangement, but her cousin Alexander, now CEO of Sterling Industries and one of Britain’s fastest-growing companies, would have. But then she’d heard Drake call her Sienna’s replacement.

Returning to the present, Thalia told Caroline, “Don’t worry. I’m returning to London in a few days. I won’t be coming back.”

Caroline hadn’t expected it to be this easy. She was suspicious. No demands for compensation? No drama? Something felt off.

Thalia checked her watch. “If you’ll excuse me, I have an appointment. Good day.”

Without waiting for a response, she grabbed her bag and left. Caroline sat there, stunned. Did she just leave?

Caroline fumed. She’d worn her most impressive jewelry today, intending to overwhelm the middle-class girl with the vast difference between their worlds. She’d imagined Thalia serving her tea with trembling hands, perhaps collapsing in tears. This was not how she’d expected things to go.

After Thalia left, Caroline had no reason to stay. She stormed out, already composing her complaints about Thalia to Drake. She had a thousand grievances about this ill-mannered girl! Her driver waited outside.

Shortly after getting in the car, she received Sienna’s call. Smoothing her voice, she answered. “Sienna, darling, you won’t believe how that girlfriend of Drake’s just behaved. Absolutely no class—though what else can you expect from new money?”

Sienna’s heart leapt. Perfect—if Thalia had offended Caroline, Drake would have to end things, no matter how reluctant he might be.

“Don’t let her upset you,” Sienna cooed. “You can’t expect manners from someone so… provincial.” To Sienna, being middle-class was practically the same as being a country bumpkin.

Caroline continued, “You’re such a dear. At least that girl had enough sense to say she’s going back home and won’t return. Good riddance!”

“She said that?” Sienna asked. “So she’s breaking up with Drake?”

“She’d better! Even if she doesn’t, I’ll make sure they end things. After her behavior today? Impossible!”

“That’s wonderful news,” Sienna said. “Are you heading home? I could come by…”

Back at her firm, Thalia submitted her resignation. She’d been there over three years, growing from summer associate to junior associate. This small firm had seen her development as a lawyer.

Her assistant, Katie, had just graduated college that year. Hearing the news, Katie’s eyes immediately welled up. “But why? Everything was fine—what happened?”

“Family matters,” Thalia said. What had seemed like a simple resignation suddenly felt more emotional seeing Katie’s reaction. Their relationship had grown beyond mere colleagues.