Rising From Ashes: The Matriarch's Spectacular Comeback

ing violently in his jaw. He pulled out a secondary, e

a low, dangerous rumble. "I don't care what it co

him earlier was gone, replaced by a tense, protective urgency. "We need t

ne nodd

reight elevator down to a subterranean ser

es of the Blackburn estate, the afternoon sun was ca

foyer, her stride firm but careful-the lingering stiffnes

assive, neon-pink pop-art sculpture sitting on a pedestal where a priceless

. Her voice wasn't loud, but it

ng about a pregnant mistress had burrowed into his thoughts like a parasite. His mind warred with itself: his eyes recognized the mistress he had served for decades, but his rational brain, poisoned by twelve years of believing she was dead and by the morning's scandalous news, seized on the pregnancy rumor as the o

silently by the door, expecting the master of the house to reprim

inerator," Katherine ordered, pointing

pen. He looked at Kennard,

buttoned his suit jacket and looked awa

ontrol over him was absolute and unnatural. It confirmed Alistair's darkest suspicion: whatever she was, she had Kennard completely under her spell. He gr

p deliberate despite the dull ache radiating from her knee. She pointed a

t the 18th-century tapestr

e exact configuration it held twelve years ago. Kennard followed her like a shadow. With every

blare of a car horn

security checkpoint, bouncing violently over the speed bumps. It sk

s side door

ner dress and massive Chanel sunglasses. Her hands were shaking

rds, who hesitated to physically

oors into the foyer. Her face was c

ce echoing off the high ceilings. "Where is

orce him to run to her and apologize. He dug his fingernails into hi

h, Brittnie. You

es were wild. She had never heard that ton

o the landing of the grand staircase. She crossed her arms, looking down

taking in the face that was a flawless, younger replica of the

e. "You actually did it. You found a plastic surgeon sick enough to ca

is own lingering doubts, but something in the way the woman held herself-the quiet,

the banister to ease the pressure on her knee. She stopped on the marble fl

nd down, her gaze linger

ion," Katherine said, her voice dripping with absolute,

e insecurity. Her face flushed a dark, mottled

her long, acrylic nails aimed directly at Kather