s. Arnold. It was an event meant to showcase the famil

ance was not optional. It was part of

. She, in a gown of shimmering gold, wearing the sapphire necklace. Her necklace. The

own wake. She smoothed down her simple black dress. It was her

she would consider every moment of it a ritual of goodbye. A final walk t

he stepped out onto a deserted terr

m the shadows of the garden below. Em

his voice a low rumble. "You've handled i

pa

tter?" Ebenezer a

said, his voice tight. "T

Once she is gone, you can legitimize your relationship with Miss Ke

urpose," Emit said

of the c

They are Arnolds. She wi

ed for her. A clean cut. Erased from her children's l

ad known this was coming, but hearing it spoken so

k inside and nearly

el, knowing look in he

She stumbled back into the crowded ballroo

hed the room,

m

to Gigi. He wasn't looking at her, but Dor

mething that shattered th

y brushed a stray strand

serve for her, in the early days, before the coldness set

it to Gigi. In front

p, so absolute, it w

as nothing left to salvag

h against the tall glass windows. The wind howl

d straight

vy doors and stepped ou

e rain soaked her hair, plaste

or

s voice, sha

r arm. "What are you doing? Ar

ched her

oice loud enough to b

down her face, washing away the tears

he said. "I'm not your problem to mana

driving rain. Away from the she

he words a vow to herself.

For the first time in years, she had done some

n the entire glittering, toxic world, and w

otection. She was the woman who had finally