ys were a slow,

d Jovita laughing in the garden; their heads bent close together over coffee on the terrace. E

ve, but she could feel their pity. It

a Sunday brunch hosted by one

, clinging to Gifford's

around her protectively. He shot Adriana a look.

ana had known for y

ushed. "Taking in that poor girl.

miled, a perfe

between Gifford and his grandmother. They were discussing

considering," Adriana began. "I think their modernis

tone patronizing. "This is a famil

ad wandered into an adult conversation. He had stripped her of her voice, of her r

tating blow land

Adriana went straight upstairs, wanting o

waiting for her

eyes wide with a malicious s

ing to talk a

ow you're not happy I'm here. I saw the way you looked at me tonig

surd, so twisted, that A

you talk

oice dropping to a whisper, "that if anything

he threat, Gifford's voice boo

going o

been li

tears. "Gifford! I'm so scared

the hallway and pulled Jovita behind him, shi

filled with a disgust that ri

ous. "Are you so jealous, so pathetic, that you would threat

e was shaking, not with fear, but with

happening. I see the poison in you. I never thought you wer

ogized. She would have smoothed things over. She w

oman w

ame gesture of comfort he used to offer Adriana when she'd had

to this other woman, wa

ve Mrs. Gable prepare the guest suite in th

me, his life, around this

n stopped and looked back at Adrian

he most important event of our year. You will be there. You will be smiling. You will p

declaration that her position was

united front. She was the outsider. The problem.

allway of the house that

hat followed

oom. She didn't cry. The

erfectly made bed and felt t

t. She would go to his

burn his world