ediate and catastro

of honor and my strategic, "selfless" withdr

wildfire. The grand society wedding of the year had

d, they got a scandal, a daughter-in-law with a questionable background, a staged suicide attempt, and, worst of a

ourthouse a week later. There were no crowds, no organ music, no

for me. She received the standard, minimal trust fund my father had set up for her ye

nced. The society pages praised my "grace under pressure" and the family' s "unf

sion in Europe. He had been briefed on the entire situation, and he wa

t our estate, a clear signal to everyone that the

gala that thi

ambassador when a voice I neve

nabe

uit doing nothing to hide the dark circles under

you," he said, his

k about, Wesley," I rep

Please. I know everyt

. "What are you

s in her sleep. She brags about it. The lake house... pushing me in...

terrible mistake. Please, Annabel. Give me another chance. We can annul

ry for his weakness or his betrayal, only for the

esley," I said, my v

me!" he insisted, his gri

d, let

ying an undeniable authori

er had taken under his wing. He was everything Wesley was not: honorable, direct, with a strength that came from merit, no

aming on his chest. He looked at Wesley

y," Ethan said, hi

de, scoffed. "This is none

wift, economical movement, he gripped Wesley' s wrist. Wesley ga

positioning himself between

resence," Ethan said, his eyes lik

Wesley, humiliated and physically outmatc

ression softening. "Are yo

ended mine without a moment' s hesitation. For the first time

I said, an