sed in gold. The driveway snaked through acres of manicured lawns and ancient trees, final

thought she'd left behind in the back alley of the restaurant. She clutched the strap of her worn purse

ed them into the grand foyer. The ceiling soared two stories high,

aircase, were Delphine Mays and Elianna Nelson. They looked like t

travel over Eileen, from her cheap shoes to her thrift-store

stepson. "Harrison, I cannot believe you act

red, a malicious glint in her eyes. "Perhaps sh

speak, but Eileen placed a light hand on his arm. He stopped, looking d

of their partnership. Sh

She inclined her head toward the older woman. "Hello, Mrs. Mays. I'

er voice steady. She would

off, half-hiss. "The name 'Butler' is not

on, a new bride must first serve tea to the elders. And she will, of course, provide a fu

il her impoverished, broken family in this palace of wealth. Elian

purse and took out a tiny digital voice recorder. She

anged instantly. "What is the mea

s important family moment for posterity. However, Mrs. Mays, reg

al Spouse Protection Act. It explicitly states that no individual, under the guise of 'family tradition' or 'internal

ery clear that forcing a matched spouse to perform what it calls 'class-base

it seems, has just broken federal law. I started this recording to protect myself, of cou

sil

d by a girl she'd dismissed as trash, using a law she'd never bothered to read. The threat of a fe

, her mouth slightly open,

le expression, had a glint of something that looked like admi

authoritative. "Roberts," he said to the

rd "wife," turning

Mr. Bu

Eileen passed by Delphine and Elianna. She gave

ore infuriating than any

ils digging so deeply into her palms that they drew blood. Thi