locked the safe and descended the stairs, slip

xtent to which her son i

him with a Lego set, but Aidan was a pow

ng plastic echoed thr

Scarlett! I want h

ad just hurled the Lego Millennium Falcon against

son's tantrum with detached calm. Every overture she made was met with a

rlisle appeared, her posture rigid even in a

ed up?" Her tone was a reprimand, autom

o tears. He ran to her, burying his face in her robe. "Gran

oe an unreadable look, then patted Aidan's back. "Go with

m fell silent. Eleanor glided over to t

"This morning, before she could even enter th

lnerability to show. It was exactly what

s been... difficult. Men of power have their indiscretions. It's distasteful, but it's a fact of life. But bringing his f

ort. "You are the lady of this house. You are Mrs. Carlisle. That w

or defending Chloe's honor. It was about brand management. As long as the affair was discreet, it

with tears, playing her part to

eir to the Carlisle name. His environmen

eanor's control la

am Carlisle, it's Master Aidan. He's locked himself in his room. He

dened, the flicker

ts stiff, playing the anxio

idan's door. She knocked. She pleaded. She

him for nine months, who had loved him before the fog stole her

cream. "Go away! I want Scarlett! I h

oor. She closed her eyes, letting the h

s. His heart had been hollowed out and filled with loyalty to an

he struggle, the guilt-it all evapora

d failed. And in that

at the top of the stairs, her f

d. "Mother, perhaps Aidan is right. Perh

s was not the reaction of a vindicated wife. This was s

?" Eleanor asked, her vo

too much for him to handle all at once. If we force this, we'll only make her a