irtieth-anniversary ga

d stars. Soft music drifted through the vast villa as a renowned pianist played a smooth,

ed suits talk

ied for attention with th

mplicity: an asymmetric, high-neck

lished, and utterly d

, backless design far too suggestive for her taste. She

a sophisticated chignon, her makeup was impeccable, and she wore a

ded gracefully behind her. In one hand, she clutched a crocodile-leather Hermès bag; w

ad already begun to rip

ghter again, " one guest murmured. "Everyone know

, gets treated like she'

day, " another chimed in. "Two bodyguards tr

mily, and instead of reclaiming her place, she just lets Margaret ke

ered. "They raised Margaret for twenty ye

turn this around, she has onl

You've got to be kidding. Everyone k

rents prefer the adopted daughter, and h

Julia spott

ightened i

nd Summer, searc

sed into a th

she demanded sharpl

et, who was still clinging to Julia's arm a

me, " she ans

o contact him sinc

ssed call, but wh

o whatever you want with her, " someth

aret had frozen the m

ing hatred fi

n, her perfect world

er, yes... but their affection

'd had noth

aughter was here, a con

y was considering engaging Summer to

ldn't a

e, she would lose everything: her

sure there was only

had to

her resentment down and forcing a s

rtieth anniversary, and all of Havenbrook's elite are here. As Mom and Dad'

ed to take a prope

ing the fairness of her skin. It was elegan

ly, draped in jewels and designer cl

said, her brow furrowed in disa

ing laugh esc

daughter. The three of you make such a lovely litt

spoke to Julia th

had hated it when sh

ung to the thin hope that Julia mig

betrayal, and her family's hypocr

elative quiet of the grand hall, he

face h

at day this is? Don't yo

fered a c

e how to behave for the last twenty years. So

she turned and walked away,

anger. But aware of the eyes on her, she ha

immediately slipped back into h

ul to you? You don't deserve that. But d

er hand, a flicker of war

to be so stubborn, while the one she'

picked up a plate, and helped her

ed her, a cocktail in hand an

k throwing a tantrum will get you noticed? Mom and Dad raised me for twenty years, not

head, her tone

get out of the Stewart fam

of her cake. The strawbe

ng her eyes, she as

ha

then get lost, " she sa

st into a de

nding you're

g the glimmering necklace at her throa

" she asked with

d froze arou

set her p

t family who had ever truly l

passed away, and Summer had lost the only perso

ndmother had left behind

ngs and a six-pointe

for the Stewart sons, while the necklace was pass

family had given the necklace to the

made it her dying wish that the necklace be

ulia was simply keep

t would still be hanging

g of grief shot t

of pain in her eyes, felt a

led in

roof that Mom and Dad know exac

er voice dropping to

? You're

h

m suddenly tore

aa