Discarded Wife, Legal Legend Rises

he timing was bad. The truth was, he was avoiding it. The note Eva had left still bothered him, a puzzl

legal maneuvering. The Atelier Noir dispute had vanished overnight after he used the exact legal argument Eva had

nounced one afternoon as they were having lunch. "Fo

sed. "You don't

. "It's the polite thing to do. And besides, it g

of guilt, but the thought of spending the a

store, the kind with plush car

ike?" Holly asked, gesturing t

gs he thought a wife should have-a new vacuum cleaner, a set of expensive pots and pans. He

simple," he

f it's her style." She turned to the sales associate. "Do you have a model who can

r, Holly's eyes landed on Eva, w

shell corporation she' d set up years ago. She had been walking back to her hotel when she saw the

mixture of surprise and reli

business," she sa

erfect! Eva, you can help us. Keith is buying you a

"Could you try this on? I

knew it. She could see it in the

ith. He was watching her, an expectant look on his face, completely oblivious t

ght. Let them

felt cold against her skin. She looked in the mirror. The diamonds sparkled

t her eyes were fixed on Keith's reflectio

" he said, his

stentatious piece with a brilliant sapphire at its center. "W

of jewelry on her, discussing her as if she were a

this one..." She picked up the sapphire necklace again, the on

ading. "I know it's for Eva, but... it wou

"We'll take it," he said to the sales

nd her neck. "Sorry," he said, not meetin

te removed the sapphire necklace from Eva's

r him to pick out

her voice devoid of any emoti

st the glittering diamonds and their own casual cruelty. That was the la