A Marriage of Convenience

a calculated transaction, a means to maximize benefits. Persona

husband of impeccable lineage, wealth, an

hey signed the papers. They didn't see each other, not e

had already built a whole othe

of affection just now, the outcome of th

rs from sneaking glances at Grace,

mpathetic yet entertained gazes thrown her way, fingers tightening around the stem

on you. Wishing you

lass, offering a

y laugh, lifting her own gla

rsation ended. A polite pause. A moment

ention of letting h

me. Grace, if I remember correctly, your annive

remember it even

oothly, her voice ti

gne glass, the fleeting flicker

e, she r

ld she

ouring her heart and soul into every detail, only for Grace's w

"unprecedented grand affair"-until Bellavance a

of unmatche

fluential ma

ek. Dana's, meanwhile, faded into obscurity-relegat

d that humiliati

nally had the chanc

ything for you? Or wait-he's

r God'

pic Dana really did

e. She had nothing to say to that-because the truth was, her husband ha

change had be

onses had never exceede

business first. Romance has

t her gaze locked onto Dana's, a s

ntly, "Oh dear, you're not ma

"I just think marriage needs time and effort. I

champagne, her smile dang

the advice

he auction was

l. Rows of deep red leather chairs, arranged in

ated in the front row, thou

lectors whispered among themselve

stir at the ba

fter another, heads

A late-arriving socialite, p

ly intensified, spreading li

looked back were now stealing gl

l she caught Dana's eyes on her-

t Dana's expre

own, Grace slowl

oman in her forties, poised and ele

di

after winning Best Actress six years ago. Rumors swirled that sh

was rare for someone of her stat

ook away, she caught something t

igu

et unmistak

rs turned

ne went

o

uldn'

d

already loc

no mistaki

line, the scu

-blue eyes-piercing,

-absent

el St

had been watchi

man she hadn't seen in nearly two years, had just w

sion, thick lashes sweeping down as s

she smoothing the fabric of her

sipated, swallowed by the quiet in

ed your wife is here.

ted in the ongoing bids, tu

d briefly toward the wo

was calm,

ready

" Lydia ar

o their arrival at the venue,

ri

the woman Raphael Sterling h

faintly, offering no

her head bu

n Paris next week, you should br

rig

wice-and at last, the s

s, their double-tiered, teardrop silhoue

usly arranged diamonds, a brea

he auction house handl

these earrings had never been pub

been a token of devotion from a F

ry jewelry was often dismantled and repurposed over time, for this pair of earr

d come from all over t

oubt Raphael w

is new compa

l-only to catch him shaking his head s

been simple-see the earr

no

as cu

ould the b

her shifted

ng bid: on

eted almos

ree million, the air had

ppled throu

terling is

we don't sta

I wouldn't h

rli

werful financial d

tured to Australia to expand

ed control of the country's private banking

xpected him to re