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"I was young when my mother died. All she left us was an almost bankrupt company. My father was a sad man for a while, but I think he got tired of the too-empty house..." Arabella began, but she needed to pause to breathe. "So he remarried, then Angel was born. We practically grew up together, but we were never really friends. In fact, I think we were enemies most of the time."

Damon had no immediate reaction to the moment.

"But we were a family. We took care of each other... I think. My father tried to take care of the company, be a good husband and father, pay the bills. But he failed," she continued.

"He failed miserably. We did not have money, but we had a name. We were still the Collinss in town, and that meant something." Arabella paused, looking up. "Then a proposal came that could change everything. An arranged marriage. The wealthy son of the Donovan family apparently had an interest in me. He wanted me because I was beautiful, educated, from a good family..."

Banks covered