pushing herself out of the booth. She walked out onto the bustling sidewalk,

suit, stepped out and handed her

used their fitting room. Inside the bag was a conservative, elegant cream-colored cashmere dress. It fit perfectly, of c

ume for a role she never auditioned for. The car moved smoothly through

by. As she approached, his eyes swept over her, taking in the new dress. A flash of something-approval, maybe

low, threatening whisper meant only for her. "You're a

e forced a smile that felt more like a grimace and slipped her trembling ha

rridor. The only sound was the soft, rhythmic cl

ke a room at the Four Seasons than a hospital ward. A woman with a kind, tired

uine, unadulterated joy when sh

ion leaving his shoulders as he walked over to kiss his mother's frail cheek. "

he same gray as her son's but filled with warmth instead of ice, crinkled at the corner

und herself smiling, a real smile this time, as she gently held Elea

hatter excitedly about wedding plans and redecorating a wing of the Hamptons estate,

g open with a loud bang, shat

ses indoors and carrying a massive, funereal bouquet of white

She slowly pushed the sunglasses up onto her perfectly coiffed hair, her gaze

. She dropped the lilies onto a side table with a careless thu

ubtle, protective gesture. "Lola, this is Cayla. My wif

Cayla, circling her like a shark. "My, my," she said loudly, for Eleanor's bene

Eleanor reprimanded,

ramatically. "It's just such a shame Serena couldn't make it back from Zurich

name that had made Sterling's face darken with rage. Her he

ing into her side just short of painful. His gray eyes f

mous smile playing on her lips. "Has Sterling told you

n nails into her palms, the small, sharp pain a welcome distraction from the humiliation c

ut in, his voice dangerously cold. "Cayla

she muttered, just loud enough for Cayla to hear. "B

ension in the room, began to cough, a wea

anger forgotten, his face etched with concer

replaced by the chilling realization of just how deep the hostility in this family