the marble floor like a

urned toward

ppeared as if she

glossy knot. A diamond pendant caught the chandelier light and sent it flashing across

voice smooth as cream. "I had to chan

What a surprise to see you so soon after the wedding.

ives chuckl

are. "Hello, Vivienne. You loo

An audience? Oh, I simply enjoy making an entrance. Mother

pty chair across from Aria. "We

f smoke trailing behind her. She didn't sit right away. Instead, she

he famously cold Mr. Cross? Do

without blinking.

and spoke louder. "I must say, Damian Cross is a mystery. People whisper that he's

n hung like

changed eager looks,

ed slightly. "The Cross estate is quiet. Peacef

ust a fraction. "Focus. In

You know," she said lightly, "I ran into Sophia Lin just yesterday. Such a sweet girl. She menti

en Aria's father glan

spark of fury memories o

moothed the na

id calmly. "She's always been eager

"Efficiency. Another... in

oss the table. "You've always admired efficiency too, haven't y

A cousin coughed to

pped the stem of her glass a little too hard. "I supp

y. "Perhaps. But some goals

andelier hummed faintly above them

hat didn't reach her eyes. "Oh, dear sister, yo

ings," Aria replied. "Per

nts slipped in with the next course roast duck, fr

liberate grace. "Well," she said, her voice soft and

perfectly calm. "I wouldn

no one dared comment. The duel

h flavor. She kept her eyes on her plate, though s

. You lost the first round, siste

y touched when Viv

remember that summer at Grandmother's lake house? The time you tipped the c

Uncle Harold, already pink fro

she said. "I was twelve. And if I recall, you were the one who st

den laughter. A cousin n

he forced a laugh. "Well, I was

ed, grinning. "Wasn't that the summer you made us line

r, bit the inside of he

nd, feigning grace. "Ah, yout

aid lightly, "just n

rrying a tray stopped mid-ste

eeping up her neck. "Well," she said, voice si

The question floated like a feat

he clink of cutler

n between amusement and the need to keep ord

replied sweetly, her gaz

rd Aria. Cousins asked about her own work plans; an aunt complimented her cal

t her salad like i

vienne tried one more jab. "Tell me, Aria, does Damian ever

something is truly worth laughing at." She picked

in. Someone clapped the table. Even Grac

fork tightened until

the lovely evening," she said, her voice clear and warm.

learly impressed despite hi

ed her hea

ated, eyes glitter

d grace of someone who had just won a private war. B

a like a cool hand as

he Cross sedan waited at the base of the

pen the door. "All

ding into the back s

e Carter mansion shrank behind her still br

istant pinpricks. Her reflection

he thought,

nd for the first time that ni