PM three days later, and specifi

as heavy rain poured down like someone flipped a switch. T

Great, just great. Clearly not a day to go

fway-completely stalled. The rain had eased a bit, and she wasn't too far from her destination anywa

car splashed muddy water onto her legs. Thankfully, she was only here to pi

he heating there was barely working, and

tes before spotting Edward, sticking out like a sore thum

cting like she was invisible. Di

the woman next to him, and even someon

ard's. Compared to Carol, who was clearly a mess from

ich of them was m

rld suddenly shattered in

years, Carol recogn

dhood friend. Back in high school, Jessica was one of the only girls

Jessica's family had already relocated

d Jessica differently. Most of the women around him dressed flashy, schemi

seen in the photo Edward kept in his pocket watch... They looked almos

ll, her legs ro

ight. She stepped forward and held out her hand. "You must

mit-Jessica was the

o seem out of place, so she reached out too. But

ssica didn't flinch. She warmly grasped

e back. "Nice to me

iefly brushed over her damp coat, and his lips

ard's sister, that means you're my sister too

help glancing

other," even Jonathan had been w

it? Not a flicker of ann

oney-five generations of politics meant enough connections to shake up the who

ely able to catch a glimpse of that

it all. Caro

lings-she'd seen all types

her and Jessica was brutally obvious, a canyon shaped by social class and birthright-something no amount

ess. They needed the polit

opher had been about

"? A cover to go fetch Jessica from abr

ng as he looked her up and down with that teasin

dn't a

ren't taught manners. It's pouring and still they don't slow down. Carol, we're around the

from her assis

eyes around, straggling behind them in that soak

ou look before they know

t the upper hand. No po

, Miss

he gently draped it over her shoulders and even tied the belt at the w

brand-it was one of ten piec

iver loaded the luggage. He was us

got caught under the luggage. Pain shot through

ed. "Ms. Bright, are yo

d, forcing hersel

a already settled in. Paused for a split second, then qu

t over her hand-sub

ed away about those good old

etimes, clearly not mindin

ard's deep eyes. They were nothing like his usual p

r. She looked

r. "Carol, where'd y

scar A

sed. "No kidding? Same school as

the best in the country, especially in the capit

f effort on Sophia's

s back then," Carol said with the kind of pol

ol, don't be so formal. You're Edward's siste

smiled with

called him that. Edward didn't like it. She assumed

ted it open and took a big swig. "Sh