The evidence was irrefutable.
Ashlyn stared at the ledger, her chest heaving, her mind frantically searching for a lie, an excuse, a way out. But there was none. The ink on the pages didn't lie. The pendant in Marissa's hand didn't lie.
Ashlyn slumped against the wall. The fight drained out of her, replaced by a cold, hard realization of defeat. She was cornered.
"What do you want?" Ashlyn asked. Her voice was flat, stripped of its usual arrogance.
She looked at Marissa, waiting for the demand. She expected Marissa to drag her to Beatrice's room. She expected Marissa to call the guards and have her thrown out of the estate tonight.
Marissa smiled. It was a small, benevolent smile.
"I am not unreasonable, sister," Marissa said softly.
She took a step closer, avoiding the overturned chair.
