e. Alexander's two words, "It does," echoed in her mind, a powerful current that pushed back against

loset, a room that was less a storage space and more a monument to her gilded cage. Racks of clothes she didn't like, shoes

t blue wool and silk. She had spent months working with a tailor in Italy, overseeing every detail, a final,

he was wearing one of Frances's silk robes, cinched

ding on the tuxedo. She picked up a glas

ing a hand over the fabric of the suit

red liquid all over the front of the bag. The wine soaked through th

ice dripping with fake remorse. "I am

ant face. In the past, this would have provoked a fight, tears, a sc

ll," she added with a shrug, "I guess it doesn't matte

et it out," she said, her voice quiet but hard as steel. "Get all

ices. He took in the scene: the stained suit bag, Jenna's

g to his side. "I had a little accident,

ted with anger. "Can't you be mature for five seconds? I just got off the phone with

ly confused. She hadn't spoken

tecting the Sterling family name from scandal. But Evan, in his self-absorbed world

fair. It wasn't the public humiliation. It was this. This casual, automatic assumption

croscopic thread of con

, who had pushed for this engagement. She had been so worried about leaving F

gy to a ghost. I know you meant well. But this isn

ooked at the two of them, standing there tog

chin, her eyes

id of all emotion. "We need to t

she had just started speaking in tongues

hink you are? What about your grandmother,

r the first time, her silence wasn't a sign of submission. It was a threat.