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“Have you eaten?” I asked, looking at the whiskey in his hand. “You shouldn’t drink on an empty stomach, daddy. You’ll regret it in the morning.”

He nodded, only for his eyes to drift from my grandfather to mom. Back to his whiskey.

“One more regret on the list won’t matter.” He stared down at the glass. “Can I ask you a favor? Can you go easy on your mother? She’s not coping with the wedding being called off.” He loosened his tie. “Something about you purposely wanting to ruin everything that makes her happy.”

They had been arguing a lot more lately. That smile I saw her give him was definitely a once off.

It took all my self control to not point out that they already had my next wedding planned. A two-hour flight here, and still no one has mentioned merging with the crows.

I nodded. “Well, Nate seems to be adjusting already to his new role.” I changed the subject, gesturing to my cousin.

“Controlling an operation like ours needs strength. Power. Being taken seriously. He is a good fit.”

Not strong enough. Not serious enough. Not pretty enough. Not thin enough.Not enough.

“I’m going to get you something to eat from the kitchen.” I touched his hand before walking through the crowd. Cutting through the dining room, holding back tears before I made it to the side bathroom.

Breathing in sharply. My uncles got sons; my parents got cursed with me.

Closing the door, I turned the lock. God, I couldn’t afford to ruin my makeup. Composing myself before walking back out.

“Maddy!” Nate spotted me from across the room.

“Congratulations Nate.”

He gestured to the side. “Can we talk for a minute?”

“Fine, but if it is fashion advice, you know where I stand on the topic of brown suits.”

He grinned as we walked outside. “How is Uncle Marc taking it?”

I shrugged. Everything he controlled will one day be Nathanial’s. His legacy ended with him. How would anyone feel?

“I think he wishes he had a son.” Running my fingers through my hair. “Don’t worry about him. You’re the right choice for the family.”

The look in his eyes really made me uncomfortable. I hated pity.

“Nate,” I held his hand. “It’s okay. If I wanted pity, I’d play up the broken engagement.”

“Well, your role doesn’t change, you know that?”

“I know.” every day, I will fight to be respected and worthy of just being in the same room as men.

“And fuck Voss.”

I scrunched my nose up. “One of the reasons it ended. That’s why you wanted to talk to me, right? About the next merger?”

Or should I say the next merger that his actions have caused? Perhaps I had made the wrong choice in joining the family. I could have stepped aside, never had the pressure of trying to impress dad.

“Are you aware of the issues we are having with the Crows?”

Issues he was having with the Crows. Back home, there were no problems

I nodded, staring at my father drinking at the bar.

“A merger between our family and theirs is likely to happen.”

“Considering I’m the only one left unmarried, that means me?”