t was in the way her mother stood-spine rigid, chin tilted,

ving mother. It was the posture

f the warmth that usually flowed toward Iris. "It's ju

didn't

better than she was. She had hallucinated this homecoming a thousand times-the door

to find herself in another. And this

attering the stifling silence. "Aunt Eleanor-she's you

voice was a soft, jagged blade. "Why so emoti

m turne

e loved-the one who had promised to protect her forever. But then his eyes took in her

ked away. "I don't," he said, his voice

ulder. "But pity doesn't make her healthy. Letting her s

n't once owned half the g

ftening as if she were doing Evelyn a massive favor. "Stay in the back hous

nd guests. The family lived on the s

now. They had already mourned her-quietly, privately-

velvet sofa, sat down, and faced them w

" Evelyn said evenly.

ng?" Eleanor's vo

er eyes, and let the silence expose them. Sh

room. Finally, Eleanor relented, tossing a stack of clothes onto the

sat up and looked at the sil

sing to meet her gaze. "Your room wa

ovat

Iris's. She needed a larger wal

the sound of a final tie snapping. "So you assumed I was de

oment later with a jewelry case. Iris f

y, holding out a diamond bracelet. "Now

ity

wels. She didn't see memor

y. "Does it hurt? Giving back t

at her own throat-the one Ethan had given Evelyn for her twenti

pointed at the ruby

lew to the necklace. "Ethan ga

r warned. "Don't

's voice dropped. "When

ked away. She didn't fight for a seat at their table.

rter house felt lighter.

her voice laced with fake concern. "She h

said, not looking up from his paper. "Once the rumors r

yn was m

negotiation. No sentiment. She sold every diamon

g ornaments. She

l bob, and bought a burner phone. Then, she logged into her hidden investmen

had grown. S

oney didn't care if y

edical exam. Not for her family, but for herself. She

into a crowd

od a man in a pri

en H

shadow of surprise crossed his unreadable features.

tumbled, her shoulder brushing Lucien's chest. She felt the h

d curtly, regain

he lab forms in her hand.

s meeting his with a defiance that would have withered any o

ve a dangerous talent for making

e reasons to doubt

bed in a thick, v

Now I understand why your family doesn't believe you. You're far too sharp to be

lyn stepped out without looking back, but she could