n required me to become

f from my miscarriage had manifested as a physical ailment, causing chronic f

ion to recover," I told him through the

eading. "Chloe, please. Let m

.. it reminds me of everything we

out looking like a monster. He had no choice but to retreat, leaving tray

uet of rare orchids, a first-edition copy of my favorite book, a silk robe from Paris. I instructe

Jessica, to pore over the evidence she gather

ickle through the staff and t

bout Chloe? She' s

n to Liam in weeks. She won'

ing apart. The grief w

reated a smokescreen. While everyone pitied th

lady of the house, hosting her friends for tea in the main drawing-room, redeco

for the fi

e estate, I still controlled the fin

iewing the household expenditures. From now on, all charges made by Miss Maya must be personally approved by me. Her clot

ce on the other end. "Yes,

d luncheon was canceled. The stream of shopping bags and luxury items flowing into the house stopped

was time to re-emerge. I needed to set the stage

onger today. I think some f

owed him to see me for the first time in a month. I had used makeup to mak

for me. I allowed him to take my

he said, his brow furr

much of an appeti

sed the pile of unopened gifts in the hall,

im back into a sense of security, to make him believe I w

r, Evelyn Hamilton, the family matriarch. She was the queen of this dynasty, a woma

a place of immense power within the fami

was so worried to he

iful, fragile daughter-in-law. "In fact, that' s why I' m here. I feel I haven' t be

pened with in

y welcome him into the Hamilton family. We' ll invite everyone. All of our friends, business part

ization of the heir and the restoration of the family' s perfect public image. A fl

omplicit.

ice dripping with false warmth. "I think that is exactly what

out. The whole city would be there to wat

would be their g

d be their pub