followed were

ghost, her presence acknowledged on

thick with E

over Gigi's shoulders on a cool evening. She watched as he person

of poison into her veins. She felt her spirit eroding,

was held at the estate. A g

lcony, watching the guests

ne in his hand. Gigi was attached to his arm, radian

thing in Emit's ear. He smiled. A

him smile like th

ond ring on her finger. It was not a wedding band, bu

congratulated Emit. He didn't deny it. He si

She was a secret. A shameful obligation he was

ack inside, but a

be hard t

ned against the railing ne

you mean," she sa

g her around like a prize while his wife watches from the

said n

his voice suddenly serious. "Why

icated," sh

d. "Or are you jus

doptive mother, Hildur Cumming

are. Stop hiding.

scanning Doris's simpl

the balcony below. Gigi looked up and saw them. Her smile fal

of satisfaction in her voice. "The

d to tell her that this was her h

trated this. She had brought Gigi into this house,

ued, her voice cool. "Gigi is the next best thing. She's pliable

ult was

husband," Doris said, h

he stopped being your husband the day Everleigh died.

e blood drain

pear. She came onto the balcon

" She turned to Hildur. "Mother, you sh

an accusation. Like Dor

she lowered her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. "She was just saying so

ot with anger, but with a cold, clinical as

soft. "Hildur is right. You're not yours

g at her as a husband. He was lookin

eed to rest. A

tarium his family used fo

fiction created by Gigi and Hildur, as a weapo

n a tone of false concern. It was a voice he used for the public, for busi

er, her brother, and the woman who had taken her place

ot just an attack on her position

ound down. Doris was in her roo

a knock on

to find Emit s

she thought he ha

to the small safe hidden behind a paintin

necklace. A stunning creati

versary. He had fastened it around her neck himself, his fingers cool against her skin.

," he said, not looking at he

sed th

shared history, their one goo

ation of her feelings, of her past,

was quiet, but it hung

owly. "What

r voice stronger now. "Yo

hatever I want. Everything in this h

ted to

hred of her pride crumbling. "Em

the door, hi

f emotion. "The final vote on the merger. My grandfather wil

tly, his profile sharp a

ke the loving wife. Do t

one last time. To put on the mask of the happy M

r what? A neck

e she thought was dead flickeri

she wh

ther word, taking t

oor, wrapping her

her part. She would give him

d be free. She wou