rice

ve gasp of most of t

f I were a stranger. He loo

ouse again. I held hi

public catastrophe. My humiliatio

onds before he finally spoke, his voice low

alls, stood guard at the door. My father tried to follow, sputtering about needing to be with his daughter, but one of

as the queen on her throne. The rest of the family members I recognized stood around her: Martha House, Devin's aunt, w

im. Brent House, Dev

le stained-glass window. He was a mountain in a bespoke suit, his presence so immense it seemed to s

l?" Eleanor's voice was low and sharp

early buckled my knees, I couldn't afford to let it show. "I was merely demanding

a mask of contempt. "You think you're in a position to demand anything? A jilt

mile, the one I had perfected over years

ouse family was more important than my personal fee

ing with anger. I had turned her insult back on her, and more import

icker of something that looked like approval. Or maybe it was just surprise. She

eanor stated, her voice flat.

ho stood awkwardly near the wall. "Warren. Cecil.

andsome faces were pale, their eyes filled with a mixture of resentment a

be a life sentence of my own. I would be a constant, unwelcome reminder of

, a small, defi

sculpted eyebrows

but carrying a distinct note of

It was one thing to be rejected at the altar; it was another t

who do you want, girl? My son Preston? He's already

t on the silent Preston at her side. They weren't

aveling past them all, into

atching this entire exchange like a spectator at a play. The

rent

oded and unreadable, flickered. For the first time

It was a terrifying gamble, the most audacious move of m

e single word si

pt my eyes locked on the Don. "The insult was delivered by the he

k a b

rol him, who can punish him, and who can gran

m absorb the terrifyi

made m

oose

my aim unwavering. I pointed past the matriarch

en and Cecil stared, their jaws hanging open. And Eleanor House, the unshaka

t House. The Don o