She wasn't the only one who made choices like that. In the beginning, Kevin Lane had more than just one grandson-besides Andrew Lane, there were several others as well.

But Andrew's talent quickly outshone all the rest, catching Kevin's eye almost immediately.

By the time Andrew turned ten, Kevin had already begun to make it clear that Andrew was his choice for heir to the family legacy. He sent the other grandchildren back to their parents, making it clear he would no longer be responsible for them. Andrew, for his part, never let anyone down. Academics, hobbies, character-he excelled at everything, needing little guidance. From a young age, he stood head and shoulders above his peers, both brilliant and humble, never giving Kevin any reason to doubt his decision. In every way, Andrew was the perfect fit for the future head of the Lane family.

After Andrew single-handedly founded I&A, Kevin Lane ignored all opposition and insisted on stating in his will, in black and white, that Andrew would inherit the vast majority of his assets and take full control of The Lane Group after his passing.

It was a stroke of luck no one could have predicted.

Diana Harris always felt she owed her son.

While other children grew up under the care of their own parents, Andrew was raised by his grandfather. Diana and Kyle Lane had been working overseas for years; Andrew hardly even saw them as he grew up.

Diana knew that, as a child, Andrew had longed for her and Kyle. Whenever she left, he'd stand by the window, eyes red, watching their car disappear down the drive.

But as he grew older, that attachment faded. He no longer waited day after day for his parents to return; when they finally did visit, conversation was awkward and sparse.

The bond between the three of them was nothing like that of a typical family. Diana's guilt only grew, along with her desire to make it up to Andrew.

But the Lanes were a family of old money, and Andrew had grown up in privilege under Kevin's watchful eye. He wanted for nothing-certainly not money or possessions.

Diana struggled to think of what she could possibly give her son to make up for the years lost.

Her marriage to Kyle Lane had been arranged by their families, a union built on business and strategic alliances. The families grew closer, and so did their respective interests.

But as for love between her and Kyle? There was barely any. Calling them husband and wife felt like a stretch; "partners" was more accurate. In public, they played the part-polite, supportive. Behind closed doors, she'd lost count of the number of Kyle's affairs she'd had to quietly handle. Some of his mistresses, kept in luxury apartments, had even shown up at her door.

In recent years, she and Kyle managed the Lane family's overseas business interests. Freed from the scrutiny of the elders, Kyle grew even less restrained. Some of his blond, blue-eyed lovers had children-children Diana didn't even know about until after they were born.

She'd fought, she'd cried—but it was useless.

Kyle told her bluntly that he was sick of her, that she was getting old and had lost her appeal. The women outside were young and exciting-she could never compete with someone twenty years her junior.

After yet another fight, Diana finally came to terms with her marriage. As long as Kyle didn't bring his illegitimate children into Kevin Lane's home, didn't acknowledge them as part of the family, and didn't let them threaten Andrew's position, she could endure it.

Diana had time to reflect.

Her marriage to Kyle had been arranged by their parents. They'd met only three times before the wedding there was never a spark between them.

Perhaps, for a short while after their marriage, there had been some affection. But it faded quickly, replaced by impatience, misunderstanding, and shouting matches that left them both exhausted.

Their marriage was nothing but a mess-there was no warmth, no shelter.

Diana decided that since she had suffered so much in her own marriage, she wouldn't let her son-whom she already owed so much-suffer the same fate.

She wanted Andrew to choose someone he truly loved, free from the pressures of family alliances.

She knew Kevin Lane might not agree, but for Andrew's sake, she was willing to try.

What she never expected was that the girl Andrew fell for turned out to be from the Austin family.