She looked at his tailored coat, his gold watch, and the expensive leather shoes that had never walked through the snow to find a meal.

“You think your money makes you clean,” she whispered.

“Mary, please,” Ethan said, his hands dropping to his sides. “I didn’t know. If I had known about the eviction, if I had known where you were living…”

“You would have done what?” Mary interrupted, her voice gaining a desperate strength.

“You would have brought her into your world,” she said.

She coughed, a dry, painful sound that made her entire frame shudder.

Dr. Rao frowned, checking the monitor again. “Her blood pressure is rising too fast.”

Mary shook her head, fighting through the cough. “Listen to me, Ethan.”

“I am listening,” he said.

“Do not touch her,” Mary said, her eyes burning with a fierce, protective light. “Do not let her near your castle.”

“She is my family,” Ethan said.

“Your family is a business,” Mary said, her voice dropping to a harsh whisper. “Your partners, your board, your lawyers.”

She leaned her head back against the pillow, her strength clearly fading.