"What's this?" Arabella Vanderbilt asked as she took it.
"Minnie Todd asked me to give it to you."
Arabella's hand paused just as she was about to open the file envelope. She lowered her gaze, staring deeply at it.
A few seconds later, she reversed the half-unwrapped string.
"Aren't you going to open it?"
Arabella shook her head, "No need, I pretty much know what's inside."
With a sigh, Arabella turned and gently leaned into Joel Russo's broad chest.
"Sometimes I'm really grateful for everything I've been through before because at least I know how to protect myself now, and I have the ability to do so.
Actually, I used to be just like Minnie, living simply and comfortably in what I thought was a fair world, believing that if she asked for less, she wouldn't be too sad or upset... But we both initially overlooked other people's greed, while we were content with the status quo, there were always others who weren't... "
