years, a place where he could practice his charity and piety. He didn' t invite me, but I decide

the mission' s director. And next to him, looking up at him with wide, adoring

was saying. "Funding this new charit

ing like an orphan from a sad story. She saw me approaching and her smi

sence. "This is Skye. She's an orphan the mission has been help

e dress and her wide, innocent eyes. I felt a surge of jealousy so strong it made me

d a small chapel here at the mission." She glanced at me from under her lashes. "He s

territory. She was weaving herself into his life, into the

ye' s spell. The cook, who used to rave about my recipes, now made passive-aggressive comments about how Mr. Thorne

ly grunted a hello. "Mr. Thorne said Skye wanted some of these for the mission," he said, snipping off my prize-w

he cook how to brew a specific type of herbal tea. "Liam drinks

e?" I asked, my voice s

just showing me how Mr. Thorne lik

. He saw the scene-me, standing rigidly, and Skye

m?" he asked, his tone ins

r her to be in our kitchen," I sai

to Skye, his voice softening. "Don't worry about it, Skye. Thank you for the tea." He completely dismis

artifacts. Years ago, Liam had mentioned wanting a specific 17th-century Tib

. James auction is this weekend. Remember that prayer wheel

ng, a flicker of interest in his eyes.

, my voice hopeful. "It would be

That's a good idea," he said. And then he delivered the blow. "We can donate it to the mission. For the

take my gesture, my last-ditch eff

ng gown, a perfect, supportive wife. He barely spoke to me. Skye sat on his other side,

my heart pounding. I would get this for him. I would show him. But just as

yone at our table to hear. He then turned to Skye. "It's too o

y gesture meaningless. I sat there, frozen in my chair, the paddle still in my hand. The gavel came down, and the prayer wheel w