otice felt like i

rds, her mother' s

t or drought,

d bled it dry to prop up his

the door, and the bigg

hard said later that day, his

n sign of the vineyard, its

he asked, her

mbled. "He'll save Hayes Family Wi

ere was always a price w

struggling vines of his own commercial winery. "To one of his

ugh rise. Influence?

ied, his gaze finally meeting hers,

a, her sweet, inno

than, a man whose reputation was as

e secret, a cold knot

me for the creeping weakness,

rative disease. Ag

said, her voice su

he vineyard. She

"it stabilizes Morning Sun Vineya

of gratitude washing over his wea

und Ava packin

treaming down her face. "Don't

ng the tremor in her hand, hiding t

ght. I don't have m

could make. A final act t

an from childhood, the b

gone, replaced by

iver of that boy remained,

as no w

osted the annual Napa

ess her mother had once worn, a kno

t announcement, a b

than e

ring in diamonds, a triumphant smi

is eyes cold, devoi

k the

g every corner of the hall, "I'm pleased to announce my

use rippled th

d Ava, standing alo

playing on his lips, "I've also acquired a rather... desperat

dismissively

en erupted in hushed whi

umiliation washing over

to run, t

is smile gone, replaced

against her ear, "and Morning Sun Vineyards will be dust by mo

hammered. She

earching for any sig

th

range thin

his voice, echoed in her mind, clear

unny... She looks like s

Sunny. He hadn't cal

ht, harsher, cuttin

. Remember what they

utting a hand

hallucinations. That' s what Dr.

e a mask of composure, ev

d her, their que

is your relationsh

a hostile

g, her dignity

ross the room, avoiding her gaze, already celeb

be seen, probably hi

ar, Richard had the gall to hiss, "You made a foo

with malice, "You should have shown

dn't r

chest, a familiar,

hief to her lips, hidi

hought, leaning her head

s and th

born, something about Ethan's parents'

amed her

e. The payment for si

ayed silently. Let