he did was prune

ds, his business partners, the charities his company sponsored. It was a

ld was harde

Inside was a small, velvet box. Cecil opened it. A pair

anna followed

, but I felt they were too much. I thought

eatured in a society column just yesterday. The caption read: "A sm

text. Her fingers

eautiful.

t of her that would have felt rage, or pain, or

ily friend for lunch. A woman who

o wonderful how Cleve is stepping up. Taking that poor girl, Ivanna, under

ad been a rock. One that she had been chaine

Cecil said. The words ca

n's jaw

d, meeting her gaze. "There's

, she drea

r skin. Leo was laughing, a full, healthy sound she hadn't heard in

, she let the grief wash over her. It wasn't Cleve's betrayal that was the true tragedy. It was that he ha

exts. She was sorting through a drawer of old papers when she found it. Her first research grant propos

ll rang. I

tacked in the hall

pring cleani

mber this. You were so nervous." He smiled, a faint, nostalgic expression

his tone light. "Look how

had made her brilliant past feel like nothing more than a usele

nothing le