oney. When the butler led Eve into the grand drawing room, Augustine was alread

He didn't acknowl

ed by a growing numbness. Eve sat on a sofa as

a Chanel suit, her face a mask of perpetual disapproval. Her eyes, sharp as a hawk's, raked over Eve from he

a silver-handled cane. She took her seat at the he

eeping over Augustine and Eve. "Augustine, be more discreet in the future. The R

eard the true emphasis: before the wedding is final

assent, his eyes stil

mother. Some people are simply not fit to carry the Rhodes name.

into the soft skin of her palms. Sh

e to her lap, where her hands were cle

line further. "Can't even speak for

g his journal. His brow was furrowed, not in def

e. His voice was flat, like a CEO a

er media speculation, we've decided that the wedd

A polite wor

t was supposed to celebrate their union, was being erase

at him, her voice a disbelieving w

. "She is one of the parties involved in the me

id you hear that? Auggie discusses his decisio

ds and feet icy cold. Her wedding. Her husband. Discussing its can

She looked directly at Augustine. "So, in

e, perhaps-crossed his face. He

he most brutal co

. "Enough. The matter is settled. A postponement

e vicious aunt, the calculating grandmother. She was an

urned, straightened her spine, and

Caroline's parting sho

room. She got into her car, started the engine, a

ghway did she realize her v

wheel, and finally let the sobs come. Months of quiet desperation,

e diamond ring on her left hand. It was a

f her finger. Her hand flew up, ready to hurl it o

fist and shoved the ring deep

ow emptiness. She wiped her face, her eyes

driving back to

lace she hadn't been in a ye

ing she hadn't experienced i

li