Cassandra's eyes moved slowly across the room.
Nobody spoke.
Nobody dared.
The question remained suspended between them.
Who was the hidden heir?
Chanel stood completely still.
Camille's fingers tightened around the letter.
Dante remained beside her, his expression unreadable.
Even Victor had finally found silence.
Cassandra looked toward the succession document lying on the desk.
Then she said quietly
"Chanel."
The room froze.
Chanel's face went blank.
"What?"
Cassandra walked toward her.
"You are the hidden heir."
Silence.
Then Chanel laughed.
One short, disbelieving laugh.
"That's impossible."
"It's not."
"My father named someone else."
"Your father did."
Cassandra stopped directly in front of her.
"But your father doesn't own the entire Sinclair empire."
Chanel frowned.
"What are you talking about?"
Isabelle finally stepped forward.
"The shares your father controls are only a portion of the company."
Chanel stared at her.
"The rest?"
