The Disowned Wife's Revenge: Buried Secrets and Billionaire Love

. It was wrapped in silver paper, the corners creased with a precisio

for that. It was a diamond in the rough she had found in a dust

filigree until her fingers bled, sourcing a replacement stone from a

soles of her sensible, scuffed heels. The air smelled of lavender polish and old money-a

r mother's laughter. Vivian Vance didn't laugh like that for Eleanor.

Yet, standing there in the silence of the hal

til her lungs burned, and pus

ter died

al fade. It was a

exquisite in a dress that cost more than Eleanor's entire yearly stipend. Upon seeing Eleanor, Cassandra flinched. It was a small

uggested she was speaking to a telemarketer. She was already rushing to Cassandra's sid

s forehead deepening. The interruption of his peace was evidently a personal af

a cage, but her face remained a mask of practiced indifference. She had learned

andra," Eleanor said.

ded the s

masterpiece of performance art. The trembling sug

fingers brus

he drop

elease. Gravity took over. The box hit the hardwood floor with a sick

er wrist to her chest, curling into a

d lashing out to smack Eleanor's arm away. "Clumsy! Or

t the sting in her chest was dull, famil

r stated. No shouting. N

e in Vivian's cashmere shoulder. "She looked a

the room, a looming shadow of authority.

, the man who had once carried her on his shoulders. That man was gone. Replaced by t

Eleano

r. The atmospheric pres

a mottled shade of re

t drop it. I didn't throw it. She let i

e done for you. We let you live in the guest house. We give you a stipen

the heavy drapes, the cold faces of her parents, the perform

ssandra, new to the house, smiling behind her hand. Eleanor t

bus that would never come. She was waiting for them to love her again. She was buying vintage gift

e. She didn't even want i

s an audible sound in her mind, like

r knel

scoffed. "Finally sh

ox. She stood up, brushing a s

vian commanded. "And

linted in the firelight. It was beautiful. I

assandra, who was peeking out from between her

ed toward th

Cassandra asked, her v

d the brooch

glittering comet, and landed

up, genuine shock breaking her a

amed. "Are

ched the gift be consumed by the heat. It felt good

or said, her voice devoid of any

d her bac

to your room! You are forbidden to leave

back at them. Leaving now would be messy. She

said coldly. "I'

leaving the ch

Eleanor closed the door and locked it. She leaned against the wood, sliding down

de her closet, behind a loose floorboard.

number she

distorted vo

now. The tremble was gone. It was cold, sharp, auth

. We are s

ion in the mirror. The girl who just burne

ked dan