t' s voic

Abigail Haye

e cut

ion of

about a young wom

stood near the

showed

ank

for a daughter of old New England money

ir in the Blackwood m

t was their

would

ad t

o their prenuptial agreement, a d

n the formal

two, a single white

bless him,

d the silk o

ache deep in her bones

told Ethan.

f the front

p and impatient, car

e, light, musical

breath

lle clinging to his ar

Abby, then

a guest,

, a striking blu

mind. Ethan insisted I join. He said

gaze was

germs. Try not to... contam

hit Abby l

amin

me he now weaponized with

food, chattering about her latest shop

f expensive whiske

eed to talk a

e' s husband. His politi

squeezing him, a slow,

p. Your grandfather' s

t look up fr

enator Vance, orchestrated this disgusting marriage.

s flat, devo

d me. You

a wave of

r own, Ethan. Years b

ly has always bee

his eyes filled with a hat

a small price for wh

he confrontatio

gh rattled

and to her mout

ed to se

drove to Ellie' s m

away from the Bl

he door, her s

ut visible, color

What a s

he house

s trembled as

lly?" Abby asked,

composu

eamed dow

difficult. The pressure f

cheek. "It wa

ew it w

voice dropped

regnant,

agile hope

Especially not Gregory. He

gged her

stay here, you

he warmth a stark contrast t

and Isabelle were in

d the door

on the sofa, Ethan

smile Abby hadn' t seen

, and Isabelle laughed

kissed her, a l

heart

irmation of everythi

ity Gala was the e

she had to

m for underprivileged children, was about to be hostilely tak

gne fountain, Isabelle radiant

wards them, he

her onl

han, the cold marble floor chil

through the

ng. "The Vance Literacy Program. It was my grandfa

at her, his expr

eyes gleamed

ly. "Perhaps you' re looking for a new role? Isabelle

hed, a light,

' re down there... I' m in the mood for some music