lroom. It felt like walking in

e. It was at the far end, near the kitchen doors.

cross from her sat Dian

wine, her eyes cold ove

my son?" D

ttend to," Ellyn said

l silent. "Thank God. Someone needs to bring some pedigree back to this fami

ilverware. The meta

ian continued, slicing her steak aggressively. "It must be hard,

ippled dow

chair scraped loud

me," s

ian smiled. "Don't l

pushed through the French doors onto the terrace, gaspin

he garden, into the shadows of

er side of the greenery. A

leave? He practical

heard he's buying back

eryone knows she trapped him with t

around herself. A jok

ack inside and col

locked h

oane smirked. "Trut

of my way

. "He defended you earlier to save face. But tonight? He

Ellyn said, her voice shakin

ed a hand t

ng into the soft earth of the flowerbed. She flailed, g

er into the terrace, toward the st

eded s

didn't

errace, a familiar voice drif

rd