ablaze with light, the warm glow spilling out across the manicured lawns and illuminating the v

toned his suit jacket and immediately greeted a silver-haired man appro

ve had been a blur of pain and nausea. She took a shallow breath and sl

er muscles, the loss of blood, the sheer exhaustion-it all collided at on

r wrists, but she managed to stop her face from hitting the stone. She stayed there for a sec

down at her, his face impassive, but Diana caught the slight curl of

s trembled violently with the effort, and black spots danced in her vision, but she forced herself to

rs and Chanel No. 5. Curtis was already deep in conversation with a group of

stone, letting it support some of her weight. She kept her head down, trying to make hers

women had a rad

inally decided to grace

ood before her. Henrietta was wearing a severe purple gown that matched her icy demeanor, a champag

watching in that penthouse," Henrietta said, her voice just loud enough to carry

"Don't be too hard on her, Mother. Diana is just fe

so tightly her knuckles turn

t claim a woman who can't even keep her husband interested, let alone underst

ughter rippled thro

u see Carla's new piece? It just sold at Sotheby's for a record price. She's a true visionary." She tilted the

w. "Of course she is. Carla comes from old money and real talent. She has grace.

hey wanted a reaction. They wanted her to cry, to scream, to make a s

that was climbing to a sharp peak. A sheen of cold sweat broke out on her

re acting like you're dying. You look like you're about to throw

managed, her voice

the way you're clutching your stomach and sweating...

in the air l

gna

her. She had been pregnant. She had been carrying a life. And now she was

fine tremor that started in her hands and spread to her shoulders. She co

"Pathetic. Absolutely pathetic. You can't even stand up stra

t them. She wanted to tell them about the blood, the baby, the absolute hell her l

streaks of gold. She felt her knees start to give way again.

e, instinctive search for her husband.

here was only a cold, hard warning. His jaw was clenched, and his eyes narrowe

turning back to

hing inside her. He didn't care if she li

violently. She started to slide down the pillar,

etta!

music and the chatter like a kni

ions vanishing, replaced by sudden fear. They

older man striding toward them from the entrance to the study. He leaned heavi

triarch. The man who owne

s sharp eyes taking in Diana's slumped,

their hostess?" he roared, his voice echoing off t