"Dad, do you think she’ll come?" Isabella asked sweetly as she sat at the round table inside a private dining room.

"Isabella, dear, is that even a question?" Carmella gave her daughter a knowing look. "Your father called her personally. Of course, she’ll come running. She’s probably dancing after that call."

Isabella giggled while Carmella smirked.

Both women turned toward the man seated at the head of the table.

"Right, dear?" Carmella hummed.

"I’d like to see her try to ignore my call," Marshal snorted. "She’ll come. She’s never ignored my orders before. No matter what, she’s still a Di Carpio. That’s something she can’t erase simply by changing her name."

The family of three smiled in satisfaction.

They were certain Ashley would come running no matter where she was.

Ashley had always been like that.

No matter how badly she was beaten, she would still come when called like a loyal dog.

Even with Isabella.

No matter how many times Isabella framed her for things she never did, Ashley still fell for it.

"She’s still lucky," Isabella muttered, her mood dipping. "How has she survived this long in Dominion?"

"That wench probably has nine lives," Carmella scoffed.

Marshal snorted. "That woman survived Dominion because of me, not because of luck."

His expression hardened. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

"Had it not been for me, she wouldn’t have lasted a single day. She would’ve died the moment she stepped into that world."

The Di Carpios had trained Ashley.

Whether she admitted it or not, much of what she knew came from Marshal.

He had thrown her into situations that could either kill her or teach her how to survive.

"Don’t mistake what she owes me for luck," he corrected sternly.

Both Carmella and Isabella straightened immediately.

"Anyway," Carmella smiled as she turned to her daughter. "How are things going with June?"

Isabella’s smile vanished. "Mom, I already told you. June is just a friend."

"Dear," Carmella reached across the table and squeezed her hand. "June’s father is likely going to become the next president. You know how important that is."

"Listen to your mother," Marshal added. "Once his father wins, people will line up to marry into that family. June already likes you. It’s best to secure our position now."

Marshal had political allies.

Just not allies at that level.

That relationship was too valuable to lose.

And in his eyes, Isabella was the easiest way to secure it.

After all, June’s family was just as greedy and ambitious as their own.

Once they gained that much power, there was no guarantee they would honor old friendships. They would have far better options.

Isabella frowned. She glanced at Marshal before looking back at Carmella. She attempted a smile but failed.

Knowing her daughter well, Carmella scooted closer.

"Isabella," she said gently. "Just until the election. Secure the alliance first, alright?"

"But June doesn’t like me that way," Isabella argued. "He sees me as a little sister."

Her lips pursed. "Besides, he’s obsessed with someone else."

Marshal and Carmella immediately frowned.

Seeing their reactions, Isabella swallowed.

"He likes Ashley," she muttered. "He’s crazy about her. He’d do anything for her."

It was a lie.

Isabella knew perfectly well that June was crazy about her. The problem was that she enjoyed having options.

And June simply wasn’t her type — not after meeting Lucian.

Physically, June wasn’t bad.

But compared to Lucian?

There was no comparison.

Even Memphis ranked higher in her eyes.

June was too soft. Too dense. Too boring.

"June likes her?" Carmella repeated, frowning deeply. "How?"

Her expression twisted. "That wench. Did she actually seduce him while she was living with us? I knew she was up to no good!"

Carmella scoffed. "She really is just like her mother."

Isabella quickly pressed her lips together to hide her smile.

"She’s already married," Marshal grumbled. "And to Lucian, no less."

"Don’t worry, Dad," Isabella smiled sweetly. "Even if June only sees me as a little sister, I’ll maintain our friendship."

Her smile widened. "After all, we can’t have Ashley marrying two men at the same time."

She tilted her head innocently. "Even if Lucian doesn’t love her, his pride wouldn’t survive finding out his wife has a lover."

"That’s right." Carmella nodded. "That would become very complicated, wouldn’t it, dear?"

Both women turned toward Marshal, only to find him narrowing his eyes.

He looked as though his thoughts had wandered elsewhere.

Carmella studied him. "Marshal? What is it?"

"Nothing." A vicious smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "Don’t worry about it."

Both Carmella and Isabella recognized that look immediately.

An idea had just occurred to him.

Neither woman asked what it was. Marshal’s business was his own.

Whatever he was planning, they trusted it would benefit the family.

"Anyway," Isabella checked the time. "Isn’t she getting rather late?"

Marshal had given Ashley one hour.

That hour was almost over.

"She’s probably nearby," Carmella said dismissively. "She’ll come. Ashley has always been punctual."

Marshal nodded in agreement.

And so the three continued waiting.

Time passed.

The restaurant manager stopped by to ask whether they would like their food served.

They declined.

Then more time passed.

Ten minutes.

Twenty.

Thirty.

Another hour.

"Has she gone insane?" Isabella hissed as her stomach growled. "Is she actually ditching us? Her own family?"

"That ungrateful wench!" Carmella snapped, her own patience wearing thin. "Does she really think she can keep us waiting just because she’s part of Dominion now?!"

Marshal’s expression darkened. He had personally called Ashley. Yet over an hour had passed, and there was still no sign of her.

"Dear!" Carmella huffed. "What an ungrateful child. Is this how she’s going to repay everything we’ve done for her?"

Her voice rose.

"Has she forgotten that you’re the reason she married into Dominion? You’re the reason she became somebody!"

The moment those words left her mouth, the door suddenly swung open.

BANG!

Carmella and Isabella jolted. Before either woman could react, a familiar voice echoed through the room.

"Sorry, I’m late."

Ashley marched inside while dragging an empty chair behind her.

SCRAAAPE.

The sound echoed throughout the room.

She deliberately placed the chair as far from the family as possible before taking a seat. Then she crossed one leg over the other and fixed her sharp gaze on Carmella.

"Being a married, working woman is exhausting." A pleasant smile spread across her lips. "Now, where were we?"

Her eyes narrowed.

"Ah, right?" She leaned back. "How could I possibly forget the people who married me off to Dominion and worked me to the bone?"