ce was a ma

e whispered, her voice venomous, close to my

ly's name. They'll be dragged through the

in the air, heav

etired Chairman. My sister,

es meant

mmanded, her eyes like ice. "Tell them you we

sea of faces, the wh

office, the cheap furni

to shield my family from immediate

voice barely audible

age, and left the gala, the

rtment, the air

hes, toiletries, the few thin

h stormed in, her face s

lled, throwing her clutch onto the sofa. "In f

th another man, Sarah," I said, my voice

"I meant what I said

d, a bitter,

of sympathy. "Michael, think how this will loo

to her mouth, a wave of n

of on stage. It wasn't just

the realization settling like

, her expression turn

on. "Alessandro's lineage is... strong. Eu

upg

this," she added, as if di

dismissal of our entire life

oman I loved, the woma

s a st