ra

erine were waiting in the foyer. Arthur was impatiently checking his wa

they

both

is usual impatience. He had always looked at me and seen a plain-faced country girl, a problem to be

belief, confusion, and finally, pure, unadulterated fury. She stared at the dress, her mind

teps and stopped in front of

ne," I said, my voice full of wide-eyed innocence

could only manage a choked, strangled sound before forcing her

Catherine stared out her window, her knuckles white where she gripped her purse. Sh

anicured lawns of Blackwood Cit

e surrounded by acres of ancient forest and guarded by a gate that looked li

f stern-faced men and women-generations of Alphas and Lu

ntgomery's mother, the woman who should have become my future mother-in-law if the engagement between our families had ever truly been honored. She wa

on me. I saw a flicker of surprise in their depths, a momentary crack in her re

d, her voice fawning.

tured to a chair opposite hers. Her voice was smooth as silk, but with an

ting from the first second. To p

d no

urtsy, and held it for a moment before rising. It was a gesture of respec

ar and steady. "But before we discuss the terms of the dissolution,

the air, stunning ev

don't be rude!" she hissed. "You

king at me now with a new, sharp interest. I had surprised her twice. She

see what I wou

rthur, Catherine, please wait in the adjoining

y. Catherine shot me a look o

ving me alone with the most

her lips. "Alright, Miss Vance. You have your audience. What is i

again. The country girl, emboldened

pectful distance from her chair

I dropped

" I said, my voice soft but

o end the engagement. On