The mansion was too quiet. Too large. Too cold.

Every footstep I took echoed through the marble halls like a reminder that this place didn’t belong to me. Even the air smelled expensive leather, smoke, and something faintly metallic.

I had been there only a few hours, and already I felt caged.

My father’s words replayed in my head: “Behave yourself, Hailey. You’re representing the Carters now. Santino’s family is powerful, and I won’t tolerate embarrassment.”

Powerful.

That word ...