Claimed by the Crown Heir novel Chapter 98

"Exactly, Dad. Elaine and Giselle care about me so much. They were terrified Mr. Howard would find out about my past in Savannah after the wedding and take his anger out on me, so they kindly gave him a heads-up beforehand."

She smiled with gentle, chilling sweetness, her tone slow and deliberate as she set her teacup down on the coffee table and gracefully rose to her feet.

She couldn't even be bothered to look at the sheer panic on their faces, simply letting out a delicate, bored yawn.

"I'm exhausted. I'm going to bed."

George watched her walk away, softening his tone slightly. "Take a hot bath before bed to relax."

The second she vanished up the stairs, George slowly turned around, pinning the remaining two women with a lethal glare.

"What exactly do you gain by sabotaging this alliance with the Howard family?"

"And you, Giselle—how dare you covet your own sister's fiancé!"

"Let me make this perfectly clear. Even if this arrangement falls through, you will never be the one taking her place."

Giselle choked up, a massive lump forming in her throat as her eyes welled with furious tears. "Dad, why is she good enough, but I'm not? Am I really that far beneath Vanessa in your eyes?"

Without waiting for George to answer, she spun around and sprinted back to her room, sobbing uncontrollably.

George pointed a shaking finger at Elaine, his voice heavy with disgust. "Look at the absolute disaster of a daughter you've raised! You let her get away with anything!"

"George Grant, I know Vanessa's mother is the only woman you ever loved." Elaine's eyes turned instantly tragic, her voice thick with bitter heartbreak. "But I've given you children. I've stood by your side for over two decades. Giselle is your flesh and blood too! Why can't you think of her future for once in your life when an opportunity this massive comes along?"

"If you weren't so horribly biased, Giselle wouldn't feel the need to compete with Vanessa for absolutely everything!"

...

"What happened to your lip?"

Ben threw a knowing glance at his brooding, visibly sexually frustrated nephew, an amused smirk playing on his lips.

Alistair shot him a warning glare and slouched into the armchair opposite him.

"Stay out of my personal life, Ben."

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify