c swelled, the

he Sterling family

th fascinators and exp

y fiancé, finally s

wasn'

rm, her dress too brig

aitress from some downtown d

eath

uests. Media vans parked discreetly dow

ng's older brother, started forw

t is the mean

surprisingly steady, carrying t

en a change

er, past the bewildered guests

regret. Just a

announced. "I'm with Br

ed through

small, wounded

kson, her expression triumpha

lked back out of th

vin

lace gown, a thousand Swarovski

a rising tide of shock an

The society pages would

constructed w

hot and shameful. I w

gure moved from the

der Sterling.

his presence always commanding, his

s me, his expres

e, ignoring the cac

t, a document. It looked

cut through the noise. "This is an o

I saw a flicker of something warm

terlings were meant

ok a

y anyway," he said, his gaze direct, unwavering.

o an even deeper, m

der? Jackson's uncle? The f

s mad

out of here, the subject of r

the quiet strength in his

ife

calm settl

wly n

oice surprisingly c