derbilt's Hamptons estate, a sprawl

, champagne flowed, and th

bration, the pinnacle of

e crowd, radiant in a custom gown, the

held a glint he was beginning t

he library, the scent of expensive perfume and som

d the distant murmur of the remaining

talk," she said, he

liar dread coilin

decorative antique dagger, a Vanderbilt fa

spreading through him

teel gleamed i

it?" she murmured, her f

hard and unyie

near the scar from the sailing accident, the scar that

n," she said, her v

m like a physica

s Li

Liam. The man he h

is he?" Ethan manag

iumphant curve of her lips. "No

"You will accept this child as yours,

f his infertility, the silent agony it c

t his ear. "You saved my life, but you took away my chan

-escalate, get her away from

ing like ash in his mouth. "I sent him there on a b

lie to buy himself time, to

es narrowed,

thought she did

ed the dagger. "Paris?

said, trying to keep his voice

te threat receded, but the implications of he

all a lie. And she was holding him

so a chilling clarity. This was not just