Lord Henshingly Croft stood in the front foyer of Lara's huge mansion, one he himself had given her as a present. His deep voice could be heard loudly talking to Hillary and to Lara's horror, James. He was obviously incredibly upset about something but as a Lord it was beneath him to shout. Lara's mother stood at her husband's side, ever the faithful wife she would be with him through anything and such dedication made Lara think twice if her plan would seem credible to them. Deciding it was too late to back out now, she carried on walking quietly down the stairs, then she noticed that her father was holding a newspaper in his hands, and it was not the paper that she had delivered every morning. It was a tabloid paper.

"There she is!" James exclaimed as Lara got to the bottom step. Her father turned around as if to shout at her and stopped when he saw her face covered in cuts and bruises. He looked her up and down then calmly turned to James.

"I know you said you hit her but I did not expect that James." Henshingly looked at him a disapproving way. Lara's jaw dropped.

"He said he hit me?" Lara gasped in shock. Hillary walked over to her side.

"I cannot blame him either Lara, you have shamed me and this family." His calm manner was unnerving as his hands had started to rip the paper he was holding. She had seen him angry but had never been in his line of fire.

"How do you mean?" She asked not really wanting to know the answer.

"Lara the story is all over the paper, I know that you had an affair, that in itself is inexcusable but having it with James best friend, I'm appalled at you."

"But father you don't understand…" Lara started to say.

"Yes Lara you are right, I do not understand. I do not understand why you would throw everything away like this. I understand even less why I would get to find out via the tabloid papers." He said angrily to her waving the paper in her face. Lara took it from him and read the front page, a picture of her giving Neal a kiss on the cheek was accompanied by the headline that screamed at her. The photo had been taken ages ago, she always gave friends a kiss on the cheek, it was like a custom, yet it had been blown up out of all proportion.

"This means nothing! Mother you believe me that nothing happened don't you?" She looked over to where her mother stood, hoping for the answer that would calm her father. Her mother looked over at Henshingly and James then at her bruised daughter.

"I am sorry Lara but all the signs are there, I have to agree with what has been said." Her mother hung her head almost as though she wanted to say otherwise but didn't dare for fear of upsetting her father.

"Lord Croft I am sure that you will agree with me that I do not deserve this, I have had many an aristocratic lady after me and chose your daughter as she seemed the most well bred and beautiful. It appears obvious to me now that I made a big mistake!" James headed towards the door in an obvious put on act. Henshingly called out after him and beckoned him back.

"James I do agree with you but I think that you might be being a little bit hasty. I do admit that my daughter has been treating you appallingly and that if you stay and try to work things out that she will do anything to make this relationship work."

"Anything?" James questioned.

"Yes, anything you have my word. If she steps out of line again she will have me to answer to!" Henshingly looked over at Lara with a harsh stare.

"As much as I appreciate that offer, I need to know that my fortune and the fortune of my family will not be in jeopardy, we have only been together for a matter of months and yet this has happened. It is embarrassing for me, how am I to face my father it's not like he could miss this story. Imagine the embarrassment to my family." James answered back.

"I will ask for written apologies from the papers and I'm sure my daughter will be willing to write to your father apologising for her behaviour. Your father and I are friends, and have been since the war we will not let this stand in the way of what will be a fantastic union." Henshingly said reassuring James of what he wanted to hear. "You are family to us James, like the son I always wanted. Don't throw that away for her mistake!"

Lara stood by the banister of the large staircase not believing hat she was hearing. She felt as though her soul had been exhumed from her body and was floating above her, watching the situation unfold. Her father had seen her battered body and that James and told him he had raised his hand to her, yet he was completely on James's side. He had even said that James was like the son he always wanted, what about her? She knew that she could not tell what had really happened, it would have seen like some stupid excuse. She was trapped. James was going to accept the Lords offer, she would still have to marry him, still have to be around Neal. Oh god, she hadn't thought of that. If he had done it once what was to stop him from doing it again? Only Hillary believed her but he couldn't be around her 24 hours a day, James was sure to make life as difficult for her as possible. The floating version of herself watched her father leave through the front doors and hug James in congratulation of accepting the offer. Walking back through the doors James came over to where she stood and whispered in her ear.

"Don't forget that your father said you have to give me anything I want. I know you won't say no to me again." He smiled cruelly at her, kissed her bruised cheek then slapped her hard across her face. "Don't you ever betray me again." He yelled at her before storming out of the property himself. Lara stood there with her hand to her cheek, Hillary put his arms around her and they stood there in total silence. Her fathers empire was safe now, but at what cost.