"Stella Sterling, you know I hate being threatened more than anything."
Stella Sterling trembled.
In the months she had been by Jett Westgate's side, she knew better than anyone the fate of those who tried to threaten him, plot against him, or cross his bottom line.
"I-I didn't mean to threaten you..." she explained hastily, her voice tinged with a sob. "Jett, I really didn't..."
'She was just terrified of being sent away. She just wanted to use this little secret she knew to trade for a chance to stay by his side.'
"I just don't want to go... I don't want to leave Aethelgard, and I don't want to leave you..."
Looking at Jett Westgate's face, so cold it was almost foreign, she suddenly realized she had made a foolish mistake.
He ignored her tearful pleas and excuses, cutting to the crucial question. "The paintings. How did you know about them?"
"Jett, the paintings were just too obvious..."
