The situation was crystal clear—Isobel had thrown her weight behind us. If the Cross family kept pushing, they'd only dig themselves deeper into guilt.
Erik already had his hands full with company troubles; antagonizing the Shaws was the last thing he could afford.
The Cross family's survival hung by a thread, and that thread was controlled by the Shaws, who owned the land they desperately needed.
As for Theo, Erik had countless ways to bail him out of trouble.
An uncomfortable silence settled over the room.
"What a fascinating young woman," a booming laugh shattered the quiet.
Samson Vance, the Vance family patriarch, was grinning as he playfully elbowed his grandson Abel. "You should take notes from her instead of acting so pretentious all the time."
Abel flashed a polite smile and nodded. "Of course."
Louise's irritation flared, and she snapped back. "Mr. Vance, she's nothing but a gold digger. What could Abel possibly learn from someone like that?"
