amily, yet this time, when she stepped out of the car, the househol

hrough her chest, and a subtle nervous

e lingered on her son, brimming with tender

other and son sparked a

ts seemed like scenes fro

with us," Sallie

eminding Elena of how her own moth

the ache, she cr

or her to sit dow

r were lukewarm at best, Elena slipped into the s

looked at the two of them. "You

unreadable while Elena

. "Greyson, you're lucky. Elena is a treasu

response, his

d reached for

sped it, allowing Sallie to

irs, Sallie chatting light

leased her hand. Her voice lost its warmth as she asked q

er head and gav

you develop feelings if

ve Sallie was concerned about. The Wilson

behind their eagerness to

cept me. Forcing myself into his space right now would only make things worse between us. But don't worry, I'll do my

t a flicker of appro

uring pat. "You're thoughtful, Elena. Give Greyson an he

le curved El

y here tonight," Sall

Elena's lip

dded, "Chances don't appear by themselv

ed another smile. This ti

Greyson would agr

ena hung back, expect

aving, he walked

nit in fain

Sallie placed it in Elena's hands with a smile.

e plate, her tone

case slowly, pulling

door, her hand lift

ling Greyson's pale face, hi

," Elena gre

ed the shadows i

ad and offered a dazzling smile. "I broug

near the stairwell corner, then s

ssing her into the wall. The cherries slipped from her

e collided with the wall, her sweate

eeting eyes colder than steel, d

ing whether she could handle his grip. "Why

he had misjudged-this man might not ju

ed, making her eyes sting with tears.

eeing her eyes glisten,

ed herself, drawing in

fruit platter tow

alized she still offered the frui

thought I'd help. It's supposed to be goo

lumped against the wall, pressing her palm ove

too far, the sight of her gasping fo

t do you think I could even do to you? If you're convinced I'm after s

n tilted upward just a little, and her tear-fille

she appear

stripped of warmth. "Whatever I p

ena inquired, her hopeful eyes searc

help but find the

aight into a marriage with a stranger, and now look

y were eye to eye. "What kin

t perfect

ithout me. What? Are you going

words we

ay at his lips. "If you're set on avoiding divorce, I'll go along with

his sickly appearance, made E

"Don't talk about our marriage to anyone else

ath and said nothing, h

the news, and this marria

in the same room tonight," she m

her. "Sleep wherever you