an

f the gavel echoe

3.2 milli

-unsurprisingly-fell

thly without you." Lydia smiled as she departe

g what I w

n important client's wife and securing the item she desi

ington, Lydia's husband, a man who held domi

r gone to such l

for his

than a civil arrangement-polit

e grand hall, Raphael turned back toward th

she had been sitt

he bid for what s

d upon something ev

re she could leave, she sig

husband ended up buying

ling sweetly, but her ey

re I thought you didn't even kn

in Grace's expression

ghtly, but there was not a

aunt her-to watch her fal

ought those earrings for a movie star or some oth

ne-outwardly warm, yet beneath the surface, a

atus, they couldn't openly turn ag

tertwined, their paths ov

thood, it was about who commanded more attention, who o

poin

tifled

bother coming up

o think she had

her ever-absent husband to sudd

sic still played

azily-only to see Dana's

t n

y for a warm, weighty presenc

t the heat o

ded at that exact moment, sh

was i

u ready

iliar, like this was just another ord

nd, Grace's mind

he could, and even in three-inch heel

impossible perfection loomed

y lived with this

ment of him ha

g was a master

urteous, u

led too much, never gave away an

heavy with rain,

enough to be polit

ly lightly on her shoulder,

a slight nod toward Dana, a compo

he carried himself with the unshakable comp

the rules o

she would return the favor-esp

eyes

ue gaze was

y shifted her focus to the bridg

id, her voice

inishing up w

, standing together like this, compared to just an

momentari

s distance, Raphael Ste

mmanded attenti

been momentar

his well-timed entrance-saving her from

ion had only come

an

k to her, her ex

ty, half-narrowing her eye

what she had b

isplay-a husband and wife standing tog

nched h

rn out like this, she would have

romantic." Dana laughed lightl

for a fracti

t repeat her words

he had been badmouthi

orced a

know how t

light, casual

ing. My husband just landed

ward Raphael, her voic

at right,

utifu

tiful

ce laced

ond, Raphael's

s quickly, h

acies of these games women pla

mm

enough for her to feel the dry warmth of his touch, en

ed the urge

wanted

d lost

dn't want my husband

lled her eyes so hard

changed polite,

venue, his arm loosely around her as

already waiting

composed, swiftly

plush interior, Grace exhaled-finally free to

her face actually hurt

ately reclaimed her personal space. Th

e distant, unfamiliar

usual

erent version of

and swiftly removed her contact lenses, bli

er eyes co

the driver and the b

ch it-the faint trace

scen

ili

ightly, lips parting a

, she swallowe

er gazed out the window, watching

eople spilling out of bars, la

atmosphere inside the

h

ike the e

he silence-deep,

bring it up, let alone catc

r head, she quickl

r you bought them for, i

ng the window, as if the passing c

w furrowed ev

hed tone was genuine-or if there was

who offered explanations. H

was hi

things...

m." He paused, deliberately omitting th

ent, deliberately leavin

ing ground for envy and rivalry

ingtons had kept a low profile

of si

h

M

ifferent ack

n't press

back into word

at her from the

ut, her head tilting sl

st be

tinted window, casting a soft glow across her f

too long before he pulled it aw

g to, his attention drif

rs, elegantly

uxury, glitt

u

dding

darkened

recognition earlier that n

hat his family

, unspoken, at th