ates estate on Long Island's Gold Coast. The driver muttered something un
whipping her dark hair across her face. She stared up at the towering stone wal
wo silent maids flanking him. He was a tall, gaunt man with a sharp nose and thinning gray hair combed flat
sh accent was flawless and coated in ice. H
wling lawns, past sculpted hedges and marble fountains that belonged in a pal
ected to keep up without complaint. She followed him down a long corridor lined with oil portraits of Gates ancestors, their
the nursery door. Before she could push it open, a wo
's bed, holding a children's book. She had honey-blonde hair swept into an elega
ent and turned. Imogene Cl
e walked to the door. She stepped into the hallway and pulled the hea
y lips. She extended a hand. The massive diamond on her ring finger caught
in pierced her chest, but she kept her ha
closer, her voice dropping to a pitying whisper, her perfume cloying and sweet. "Tak
so useless, Guilford wouldn't have had
cold. She leaned in close. "You bottom-feeding tr
ence swallowing the space instantly. He was tall, broad-shouldered, with sharp cheekbones and
th tears. She rushed to Guilford, wrapping her slender finger
ogene and slammed into Carissa. "You will follow th
owerful couple. Her heart squeezed tight. But she l
e nursery door open. "Go look at the bo
mogene's victorious smirk, walked into th
ir was thin and patchy from treatment, his small body fragile under the white sheets.
eely, soaking into the pristine white bedsheets. "I'm so
hanical hiss of the ventilator. Every rise and
muffled voices of Imogene and Guilford. Imogene wa
ve into her ears like needles. A brutal remi
. Finally, a sharp knock from Al
leep. She stumbled, gripping the edge
ned the door and stepped into the empty, luxurious hallway,
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