ealth and hypocrisy. The sunroom was flooded with light, reflecting of

ded in her lap. She wore a pale yellow dress that washed

right sat his mother, Eleanor, a woman whose face was pu

stus's left

t the Garrisons tolerated power, an

mosas. Gilda held up a hand, a dramatic,

id, her voice carrying clea

hovering halfway to her

t Augustus. He looked smug, pat

She placed a hand on her

echoed in the room. Eleanor dropped her fork. Frankl

a smile breaking across his

is chest. "A boy, we think. It's ea

hug Gilda. Franklin called for a toast to the future of th

e didn't exist. She was the wife, sitting ten feet away, while h

ssion hardening. He reached under his chair and pulled out a thick manila envelop

nsition, Avery," he said. "We n

Her hands trembled-just enough

divorce s

r the villa in the Hamptons-a money pit that

Augustus was wo

rp. "Considering you're... well, barren. You provide

flat stomach. "We just wan

rcing the moisture to gather in her lashes. When she l

way?" she whispered

said coldly. "You couldn't give me

defeated. She pushed the pape

sign," s

breath he had bee

view it first. Just... just to make sure I understand

ourse you aren't. Fine. Have your little lawyer look a

"Excuse me. I...

the pop of a champagne cork. She heard Eleanor laughing, saying,

lway. The moment she was

ngle, brutal swipe of her thumb. Her posture shifted. Her

ride of a predator who had just set a