in her mind. She knew Isabel was here to stir trouble, but she wasn't going to give her the satisf

ucy said, her voice steady. "I d

r grey eyes glinting with ma

back nudged her forward. "Come, Lucy," he said, his tone s

hand still resting on her as they maneuvered through the crowd. Lucy str

ng eyes, when William finally spoke. "You handled yoursel

was meant as a compliment or simply an obse

id flatly. "Don't give her mor

ing she wanted was to provoke another cold response from William. Inst

d slightly. "Long enou

laborate further. It was as if any conversation beyond the bare minimum was off-limits. It stung th

g into the conversation. "William, there's someone here you should

eturning to its usual unreadable mask.

iam wheeled himself toward Brad, dis

am had left her side. She wasn't sure if she felt relieved or abandoned. Being Wi

erest as they locked onto Lucy. Lucy's stomach churned at the sight of her stepmother, the woman who had never once

at didn't reach her eyes, "you're certainl

rough this evening," Lucy re

e with barely hidden disdain. "I see William still hasn't given yo

deeper than they already had. "I'm not trying to prove

aïve. William only sees you as a pawn, just like your father did when he married

el had always known how to dig into her insecurities, but this was different. Lucy wasn'

y," Lucy said coolly, stepp

solve hardening with each step. She wasn't going to let the

*

ool, and the distant hum of the city provided a comforting background noise to her swirling thoug

asn't just a transaction, where she and William could have a normal relationshi

se some company," Brad's voi

warm but curious. "You have a talent for showing up at jus

oftly. "It's pa

ust Brad. He seemed to always be around, and while his presence wasn't entire

id after a moment. "These kinds of events can be... i

nod. "I've learn

. "If you ever need someone to talk to, I'm here. I've

d quietly. "He keeps eve

been," Brad replied. "Ev

ed up at that. "

ed a lot for him. Physically, of course, bu

should pry. "Do you think he'l

oment, there was something unreadable in his g

huge between them, leaving Lucy

*

signs of the conversations he had engaged in. Lucy had expe

William said, his vo

nt, with only the low hum of the car's engine filling the space between them. William stared out of th

oward his study, leaving Lucy alone in the massive, empty house. She stood in the g

ax. As she lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling, she couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right. There was

y knew her stepsister well enough to know that Isabel wouldn't give up on what