A few hours later, when the boys have been neatly dressed in their first suits of the weekend, there comes a knock at the door. I smooth my hands over my own black cocktail dress and go to answer it. I let out a whoosh of breath when I see that it’s Victor. “Come in,” I say, opening the door wide f
“Rafe,” Victor says, putting out a hand to shake his brothers. “I’d like you to meet Evelyn Ortega, and, of course, my boys, Alvin and Ian Ortega.” Ian boldy steps forward and holds out his hand. “Nice to meet you, sir.” Rafe takes Ian’s hand and laughs, charmed. “Well, very nice to meet you too,
“Oh, you poor baby!” I croon, taking a step forward and taking Rafe’s face in my hands, angling it to study his cheek. “I’m so sorry, I was so eager to get that horse fly off your face that I must have swung too hard.” I speak loudly enough that the people nearest us can hear, my face a mask of mot
“As the surrogate to your children,” Henry interrupts and corrects. “Get rid of her, boy. She has no place at this event. She performed a service for you, yes,” his eyes flick over me again, “and perhaps she still does. But that’s no reason to keep her around.” He sneers, and then continues. “A man
“Ridiculous,” Victor growls, pacing his room. He slams a fist against the wall. He saw his brother accost Evelyn on her way out of the room, saw her slam that plate of food into Rafe’s chest. Victor had been standing with his father, still giving him a piece of his mind, when it happened. He had s
“Where is she?” Victor growls, taking a step forward. The butler stumbles back a step, his eyes going wide. Victor takes a deep breath and works to contain himself. “I apologize. Forgive me. Do you have information on her whereabouts?” “Yes,” the man says, straightening his stature as well as his t
“It was that bad, huh?” Victor says, taking in her determined face. He breathes out a tired sigh and settles down next to her, staring out into the kitchen garden. He’s surprised, a little, at how quickly he went from a frenzy of anxiety to complete calm. Evelyn huffs a laugh. “Your dad and your br
“It should have been a really happy night,” he continues, his voice dropping almost to a whisper. “I’m getting married tomorrow – it should have been…all about me and Amelia, the woman I love, being excited about our next steps.” Evelyn is silent for a moment, but when he doesn’t continue she promp