ler sounded from the doorway. "Mr. Sterling, Mrs. Sterling has ret
glance at Frances, then straightened his shirt. His
orcelain teacup held perfectly in her manicured fingers
lass shards, pinned her son to the spot. "Explain yourself,
anding," Evan mumble
sk of contrived sympathy. "Frances, my dear, I am so sorry you
er gaze and s
d out, "Are you worried about her, Mother, or ar
ained her composure. "The Sterling family's reputation is paramou
Of course. It was always about the shares her mother had left her
nt," Victoria declared, her voice leaving no room f
uttered a sullen, "I'm sorry
s tired of her role. "If you'll excuse me," she said, her v
ing Victoria's warni
ing her like a physical weight. They didn't care about her. T
the bed. A new message
t. It was ju
caught in
tinum band. It was lying in a black velvet box, its facets catching some unseen light, throwing off sparks of
message
this
It wasn't a promise of love. It was a p
as their smiles. And here, in the palm of her hand, was a picture
recognized it. It was hope. For the first time all day, her eyes
cross the screen,
back thr
ove
release washed over her. A decision
of a promise from a man she barely knew, a man who was already more of an ally th
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