n air into the opulent warmth of The Palm Court. The dazzling light from the crystal chande

uxedo glided towards her

York," Amber said

tourists and society women enjoying afternoon tea. In a seclu

te Chanel suit that made her look angelic. A perfectly swee

cophants. Brooke's eyes, small and sharp, immediately began a

ting down. She kept her back perfectly straight, a silent armor

for the nearby tables to hear. "I'd imagine the minimum cha

aiter had placed before her and took a small,

lied, her tone light and conversational, though her eyes were

e opened her mouth to retort, but Delma placed a

e apology. She then turned to Amber, her blue eyes wide and se

kbook and a pen. With a flourish, she wrote something, to

er Hayes. The amount w

faux sympathy. "With your brother's illness... and everything else. This should b

ch it. A cold, dangerous light flickered in the depths of her eyes. This

k to Delma's face, holding her stare unt

edge that cut through the genteel murmur of the restaurant. "Is th

of innocence cracked, and a flicker of genuine fear

tle, but it completely changed the power dynamic. Suddenly, she was the one in control. "Let's

in the air. "I'm leaving him becaus

on Delma's entire worldview, in which Donavan was

twisted into an ugly snarl. The facade crumbled completely. "You're a liar

oman who had stolen her life. She fel

ng the entire contents over the five-million-dollar check. The ink bled in

ack, trying to protect her d

"You should pray, Delma," she said, her voice low and chilling. "Pray that the secrets of the p

way, her steps confident and unhur

a furious scrape of

ase after her. But in her haste, the heel of her expens

r of falling silverware,

ped and tu

shed marble floor, amidst a mess of