bitter smile tugged at her lips. A friend? After seven years of marriage

d to walk away, a sharp ache st

ve stillness fille

e as she stared at Brett, before her ey

ed her teeth against her lower lip,

f you start this? What do you think my daughter is to you? Do you believe you can announce a wedding

epay our kindness? Have you given even a single thought to Chelsey? She treated you like a sister, shared her connections and resources with you, and this is what yo

tightly. Never before had she seen her mother so en

nce and restraint, a woman who spoke gently and never

bvious that Gretchen was ge

urned to the servant behind her

tchen. "Mrs. Holden, I'm sorry. I never meant to destroy Chelsey's relations

nt of her. "Mrs. Holden, none of this is Lydia's fa

band, who had remained silent until now. "Jorge, you're th

e appeared on Jorge's face,

smooth things over. "Gretchen, try not to l

tions of young people are never predictable. Love cannot be forced, and it is better to let things unfold naturally. If yo

s face as she struggled to pro

something like that? Our daughter was humiliated, and her fiance was taken right from her. As her father, y

Jorge faltered and fought to

retchen, mind how you speak. W

ve their own problems. We should not interfere too much. Are you really willing to tear apart a c

iderably. "Brett, Lydia, don't feel burdened. When it come

d her, Gretchen pointed at

id open, and Chelsey appeared in a wh