I paced slowly through the hall, recalling every word he had spoken. “Catherine, do your duty as Mrs. Summers, and I won’t embarrass you. You must treat Rachel well. That’s your responsibility.” His tone, firm yet calculated, reeked of arrogance. The arrogance of a man who believed possession equaled power.
Rachel, perched delicately on a velvet chair nearby, tilted her head like a fragile porcelain doll. “Brother Daniel, I’ll be careful… I promise not to anger Miss Summers,” she whispered, voice smooth with practiced innocence.
I froze, studying her expression. Every glance, every whispered word, was a manipulation. She had used her time as a servant to learn, to strategize, and now she wielded it against me. Yet her fear betrayed her, and I could sense the trepidation behind her poised exterior.
Daniel entered the room, his posture confident, his eyes flicking between us. “Catherine, a wedding is merely a formality. Rachel will accompany me. You understand that, don’t you?”
I smiled coldly, the sharp edge of my humor hidden beneath calm politeness. “Of course. I wouldn’t dream of interfering with your happiness, Daniel. But remember—this house, these docks, and this family remain under my authority.”
He paused, frowning slightly. “I’m still willing to marry you because of our past… But you must control your temper. Your people, your authority—everything must follow my lead, at least publicly.”
The audacity of his words fueled my resolve. Daniel had grown comfortable in the illusion of dominance. He thought possession of Rachel and the ceremonial act of control could outweigh the legacy and loyalty of the Summers family.
“Do you truly believe,” I asked softly, “that twenty years of loyalty can be overshadowed by a single night of defiance?” My gaze pinned him. “That the Harbor docks could be taken from me with a few gestures and whispers?”
He hesitated, brow furrowing. There was a flicker of uncertainty behind his confidence. He did not expect resistance from the one woman who had shaped his destiny since youth—the woman who had raised him, trusted him, and yet now stood firmly against his arrogance.
“Catherine, your pride will be your undoing,” he said, a shadow of frustration in his voice. “But… if it means keeping peace, I will tread carefully.”