ar. The moment her feet touched the ground, he tucked her ar

Leach estate. A hundred conversations paused. A hundr

d, his voice a low comm

leasant smile. It was a mask she had perfected over

and around her, both

gauntlet: his mother, Vivian Leach,

ug was warm, but her eyes immediately darted down to

grip tight, her voice a stage whisper that carried. "You look exhausted,

tch she was holding. Her smile remained fixe

ian chimed in, her tone sweet but pointed. "And Adrie

tag team, steered the conversation

Caroline said, her patience clearl

sensation of being cornered. She glanced at

faced their mothers, his expression perfectly composed.

they had rehearsed. It

tisfied. "If your s

ddenly devoid of all warmth. "Let's n

. She looked offended

at his defense of her. But it was quickly exting

," she said, her smile unwaverin

nodded to their mothers. "She's be

detached herself. She turned and walked toward t

s to the crowd, the sm

further from the noise and the judgment below. At the

ing at something one of them said, perfectly at ease, the master of his universe.

ar their words, but she could read the expression on her mother's face. It was the same one she

ed to Ivette. The brilliant

Elianna. She turned away from the

quiet place. Even