Too Late To Stop Her Revenge

te held loosely in her hand. Below, the National Portrait Gallery's a

of the Barron family's defense-contracting empire-had arrived with socialite and philanthropist Evel

or, two wom

of the hospital, and Giles st

er with his wife.

irst public appeara

her life in full-one in which the same crash, caus

sacrificing her pride, her family, and eventually her life in the desperate hope that he might one day love her back. Instead, she had

ed the foresight of a woman who had already lived through every betrayal awai

trying to keep Giles. In this one, she would use

into useful information-the clink of ice in a congressman's glass, the rustle of a silk gown, the sudden silence when a secr

onal center of the room, effortlessly charming a sena

adjusted his tie. The gesture was intimate

arity auction. Giles was invited to

he "Morning Star," a diamond necklac

neck. She remembered that necklace. Giles had

e. The smile faltered, then softened into something genuine,

tioneer. Instead, he descended th

s conveniently picked up. "To thank you for your contribution

of applause and whistles. It was the most public declaration

rfect portrait of surprised, humble joy. "Gi

ook the necklace and fastened it around her neck. His fingers l

der at her own execution. She could see the cold light glintin

about this very necklace. He had called her materialist

throat. Not jealousy. It wa

nter, and dropped the champagne flute into t

s swallowed by t

couple. Her heels clicked against th

r. "Mrs. Barron? The evening i

Her voice was ice. "Somew

unned by the cold fu

ard the second floor, his brow furrowing. He saw only the last

arm. "Giles, thank you," she whispered, her voice trembling d

on snapped

nor's face. It felt like the first

act was "Giles." She pressed down on the

e Con

dn't h

ara Hayes. "Clara, find me the best divorce lawyer

had wasted years fighting to keep Giles while the people around him destroyed h

d protect her family from every scheme she remembered, uncover who had sabot

about to discover how much of his reputation, his influence, and his car

bsolute, and final. An erasure