party was a gli

chatter echoing off the crystal chandeliers. Peonies were everyw

a, it wa

he feast. She watched Grafton and Cherrelle move through the crow

shadow. A farewell to the ro

ony, needing a moment of quiet. The

r until Brooks Corbett, Grafton's lawyer

eaving,"he said,

turning around. "M

beside her, leaning on the railing. He was the only one in Grafton's circle w

He's blind. But I see it. I saw what you d

the icy landscape of her

will

far away,

sound of Grafton's voice, drifting fro

ll her back to the doorway. She

is arm wrapped tightly around Cherrelle's waist. "As many of you know, the past five ye

's name. It was the first time she'd hea

ze sweeping the room. "And I've made decisions

"Cherrelle is my future. Everything I do,

as if searching for someone. It passed

propping him up, of managing his life and his company-to a mere obligation. A duty he was glad to be rid of. He believed she loved him too much to leave, so he felt free to humiliate her publicly, twisting the knife ju

in front of everyone, he recreated the exact pose from a photograph Cayla kept hidden. A photo of him and Justen from years ago, where Justen

ption of a precious memor

of warmth in Ca

lashing against the balcony doors. Peopl

rom the shadows and walked directly

her hair, plastering it to her

tion. She didn't need his

ly, blessedly

he had served his memory by protecting his brother. Sh

would jus

at was