The Judgment House by Gilbert Parker, Fiction, Literary, Action & Adventure 12+

📕 As Jasmine left the theater box with the wealthy Byng, the girl's white-haired, prematurely aged father whispered in the pretty stepmother's ear, his eyes locked upon the young millionaire splendid appearance, "Jasmine'll marry that nabob -- you'll see!"The stepmother shrugged. "Jasmine is in love with Ian Stafford," she said, decisively. "And clearly the feeling is reciprocated.""That may be," was the stubborn reply. "But she'll marry Rudyard Byng!"