"Tell us a story," Chloe said softly, her voice losing its sharp edge. "Not a business report. Something… real."
"Julian! The vintage Moët isn’t chilled to forty-four degrees!" Chloe’s voice drifted from the grand parlor. She was draped in silk, surrounded by a mountain of designer gift boxes she hadn’t even bothered to unwrap yet. To her, the thrill was in the acquisition, never the possession. LifeSelector-XmasWithYourSpoiledStep-Sisters.rar
As the wind howled against the stained-glass windows, Julian began to speak. He didn't talk about mansions or money. He told them about the Christmases he remembered before the rarified air of the Sterling estate—of burnt cookies, paper stars, and the quiet warmth of being enough. "Tell us a story," Chloe said softly, her