looked pale, artfully distressed. A small, purplish bruise was

fury before I even sat down. He gestured to Vic

o the table. Vague insinuations about foundatio

mnist, didn't you? Tr

t her eyes with a

... She's just upset. It' s my fau

t made my stomach turn. It only fue

vise around my chest. His bi

quiet but firm. "The night I was injured? The

ing to do with this. Victoria was

" I repeated. "And I

out a small,

to quash the real story, d

mphant smile touching her lips. "Of cours

was clear. She w

e. This was a battle I couldn' t win. My

her eyes feigning concern as s

and, Sarah. Does

at my hand, a brief

ll

concern. M

stood, gracefu

" She squeezed Ethan' s arm. "D

him to deliver the lecture

until sh

lnerable. My father' s death has hit her hard. I need you to accept her. To

ce to his mistress, and mayb

than?" I asked, the w

Patek Philippe on his wrist, the one he claimed was his father' s, but I knew Victoria had

ed, the frustration bubbling up. "Why am I alway

n erupted at the front of the coff

someone

ople scrambled, c

t, his eyes scanning th

ctive movement wa

his gaze fixed on the ex

is voice raw with panic.