After that, Adrian Lennox and Adrian Ashford led Adrian Winslow toward the main banquet hall of the cruiser without another look in my direction.
I was long past being wounded by it. I'd known exactly how it would go before I'd stepped aboard. There was no emotion left to stir.
Halfway through the feast, Adrian Lennox climbed the stage at the front of the hall, cleared his throat, and drew every eye in the room.
He held the microphone, gazing at Adrian Winslow beside him with undisguised adoration, his voice carrying clean and clear across the entire hall.
"Tonight, beyond celebrating my sixtieth year, there is one more matter to announce. Effective immediately, every asset under my name, every holding, every account, will transfer in full to my second daughter, Adrian Winslow."
The words settled over the room. A beat of silence, then the murmuring spread like smoke through the crowd.
"All of it to the younger daughter? What about the elder?"
"He's not leaving a single thing for his firstborn."
"Everyone always said the Bellandi house played favorites. Now we know it's worse than that."
I stood in the corner, listening, and a bitter smile found my lips before I could stop it.
Why?