ld seal catching the morning light. The Carter family crest a

and steady. In her first life she would have ripped it open the second she s

to

the seal, the handwri

ing. Eight o'clock. You

ve. Just the famil

ed, small

ed. Of

ts full of luxury, but she chose a simple black dress that skimmed her knees. Soft silk, long

er reflection. The woman in the

med Peter, waited at the door. "Mrs. Cross," he said w

seat. The leather was

s glass towers. Traffic hummed like a low tide. Aria let her head r

rive before everything fell apart: the frantic way she'd checked her makeup, the dread that

fool sh

ence, no fear, only

ll Mr. Cross be joini

d. "This visit

ded and focuse

stretches of trees. The Carter estate stood outsi

glowed behind rows of tall windows. The stone walls rose high and cold, ivy twisting

lp in her past life. She remembered how those gates had seemed li

for a breath, then

rity guard stepped forward, flashlight sweeping

uickly, almost bowing a

s crunching over gravel. The scent of pine d

closer to the people who had once ruined he

the grand front doors, Peter turned

won't

and stepped out

The night air carried a faint trace of rain, and t

chin and clim

nts waited with their caref

he thought,

d lift a hand to knock. The woman bowed slightly. "We

p enough to notice. Aria onl

he remembered. Chandeliers dripped light onto marble floors. Oil paintings o

it. Charles Carter still looked like the businessman who ruled bo

even a handshake. Just her na

met his gaze w

r was elegance wrapped in silk, a deep green gown setting off her flawl

title smooth and careful. "We weren

e was expected," Aria repl

s face surprise, maybe irrita

ink already in hand, a pair of cousins whispering behind their palms. They

ide grin. "So it's true. You really did mar

mile. "Talk travels fa

ay?" another cousin asked,

nswered lightly. "You'll have to ask him yourse

ome looked impressed, others uneasy. Aria caught her

marble, the air filled with the soft clink of glassware being set

Silver cutlery and white china reflected the light like ti

he told her, motioning to the seat on his right a

h shy gratitude. Tonight she simply inclined

me as soon a

reating you?" her mother aske

"The staff are efficien

e said, swirling his wine. "Per

. "Busy men build emp

early hoping for goss

sity bright. "Did you two

en. "Business called him early. I don

artled, as if she'd

e she would have stumbled, desperate to please. Now she gave nothing away. Each calm

h herbs Aria glanced around the table. Every familiar f

arriage, to see if the Cross fortune would flo

earch. They wo

everyone's attention. Soft footst

ien

the soup as if nothing at all had changed, while the air