cing autumn sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ce

the king-size bed. The sheets on Ju

ension. She pulled a cashmere shawl tightly around

ral staircase, the murmur of voic

et stopped dead on

housekeeper looked up, her expression strained and deeply apologetic. "Ma'am, I am so sorry. I told her to wait

vet sofa was a woman wea

e stairs. Her shoulders were

ad, the delicate curve of the shoulders-it was the same posture from the video.

was

er fingernails dug so hard into the woode

necklace. The tuberose perfume. It all slammed togeth

n turned

ister, who had supposedly just returned f

sickeningly sweet smile spread a

na chirped. Her voice was soft, c

th. She forced the raging fire in

uietly against the floor. She gave Seraphina a curt, dismiss

ion. She reached into her Hermès Birkin bag a

ox across the gl

snap, the box

the white satin. The morning sun hit the jewels, send

e visual confirmation felt li

bought it last night, but I just wanted to try it on for th

leamed with a hidd

e stared at the necklace as if it

d, her voice dripping with ice, "why would

like a terrified, cornered animal. She opened her mouth to speak, but befor

He was wearing a dark grey dress shirt

ely and locked onto Seraphina. A d

e long strides and stopped

oice thick with panic and anger. "You haven't rec

f of Julian's shirt. She tilted her head

stand about the necklace," Seraphina whimp

over, checking her pulse, inspecting her skin. The movement wa

s pregnant wife sitting

e wrist felt like a knife twisting in Eleonora's gut. The last

out a short

hrough the room

urned. He turned to look at Eleonora, a flash of raw panic crossi

ossed her arms over her chest. She stare

told me you were bidding on this necklace for Jax Merce

tood out tight and rigid. His lie had been dragg

uth, but Seraphi

od," she whispered, looking at Julian with wide, innocent ey

strike. She had just nailed Julian

an roared. The volume of h

able! Get the driver. Take Seraph

Julian a tearful nod, then shot Eleonora a look of pure, unadu

. The living room fell into

ollar. He walked toward Eleonora, reac

e took a massive step backward, put

," she hissed.

gged breath. He ran a

g register. "Her mother was crippled in that car accident saving my life. Seraphina just went

on the table. The absurdity of h

d, her voice rising. "So you buy her a two-milli

His guilt quickly morp

"You are the wife of the Sinclair family heir. Yo

words ignited a blinding

avy velvet jewelry box off the table a

avy thud. The necklace flew out, hitting t

t, her chest heaving. "Don't use my marria

stairs. She didn't look back at the pale, fu