ipped the cold, ornate wrought-iron railing, actively resisting th

miliating echo of Nate calling her "Ma'am" was s

glanced down at the group still gathered in the foyer,

s sharp jawline, his striking, bright bl

er memory. Julian had pitch-black hair, piercing, slate-gr

at the boy, she realized there was absolutely zero phy

from the novel's prologue, which explicitly hinted that the Sterl

s definitely not Julian's biological son. That massive hidden truth explaine

to Leo. The blonde girl pretended to brush a pie

ed immediately, his shoulders pulling inward. He showed a

l his rebellious, tough-guy posturing, the kid was surprising

try to get her kicked out of the house and ruin

her hand trailing lig

had disappeared around the corner. His brow

immensely annoyed that she hadn't yelled at him or threatened to call his father to

suggested they go to the home theater in

eavy backpack, slinging it over one shoulder

he sound of the teenagers faded as they mo

ed hallway, enjoying the sudden, p

e heavy door behind her and leaning her ba

close, critically examining her face to ensure she didn't

ely. She was relieved to see youthful, glowing skin th

nightstand. She intended to spend the entire afternoon

up comfortably on the velvet chais

trying to absorb the fashion tr

relax, a faint, rhythmic thumping vibration traveled up

rowed as she tried to identify the sou

lved into the distinct, aggressive, ear-

e theater's state-of-the-art sound system to its

eaceful afternoon had been officiall