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The nize him Her father spoke, theor anyone, just needing to be closer, to find out what had just happened Suddenly the ain in the bull’s eye of his focus

She stopped Moving Breathing Her heart quivered inside her to a standstill Shock splashed through her like ice water

It was unmistakable, what she saw in his eyes now Coldness Hostility WhichIt hadn’t been a blast of attraction she’d seen in his eyes, felt radiating from him That had all been on her side

Before she could recoil from the rush of mortification and letdown, he turned and walked away from her father

She stood there, feeling as if a knife had been thrust between her ribs, heard Luci’s voice as if it were seeping in from another realm

“Lord, as that?”

Clarissa couldn’t produce a thought, let alone an answer

“That was the Savage Iron Man”

Clarissa swung around unsteadily toward the purring voice

Stella She’d beenClarissa’s skin crawl ever since they were children Thankfully, they were only third cousins, so she’d seen as little of Stella as possible She would have liked to see far less None

Stella’s words made as much sense now

It was Luci who suhts: “Huh?”

“Ferruccio Selvaggio, shipping nate extraordinaire, who, at thirty-two, is one of the richest h so young, over the smashed remains of anyone who’s dared stand in his way Hence the nicknaiven names”

“That’s according to you, of course” Luci smirked

“That’s according to co’s enthusias with the other fact, that Ferruccio is a bastard, literally—if he’ll only invest heavily enough in Castaldini”

“My, Stella, I hope nobody thinks you’re the example of what royal blood does for a person,” Luci said “It would be so unfair if you gave us all a reputation for being stuck-up bitches”

Stella pouted The perfect beauty was always putting on an act, oozing class and subtle sexuality, showing her true self only to other wo men would think therel yourself, Luciana, you don’t have to worry about that But then, that makes you the perfect h diluted blue blood that you itio for it”

As Luci continued to argue with Stella, Clarissa turned and walked away Stella’s vile words were like acid poured over the rawness of that incendiary moment It didn’t e was real

She’dmade her turn around

He was heading tohere she’d been standing Co about that second look? She began walking back