Chapter 6
Gideon’s motive was less emotional.
More useful.
He wanted Pierce access.
Through Lucille.
He had debts.
Not money he could not pay.
Influence debts.
Promises made to men because he assumed becoming my brother-in-law would make those promises easy.
Auction invitations.
Investment introductions.
Private tables.
One sentence repeated often:
“After the wedding.”
Daisy complicated only one part.
Succession perception.
I had never named an heir.
I hated the concept around children.
But powerful families speculate anyway.
Daisy was my only child.
Gideon wanted everyone to assume future sons born to Lucille would sit closer to Pierce power.
He never said Daisy had no inheritance.
Too crude.
Instead:
“Girls usually choose different lives.”
“She’ll probably want privacy.”
“Maximilien won’t burden her with operations.”
Maybe true someday.
Not his choice.
The gatekeeper cottage arrangement would visually reinforce it.
Daisy lives outside the main household.
Future Pierce children live inside.
Nobody announces hierarchy.
Architecture does it.
Gideon understood symbolism very well.
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That was why he panicked over Arthur’s phone.
It contained proof the arrangement was deliberate.
