Chapter 2

I stepped aside before she could reach me.

She froze. Then the tears came, instant and perfect.

"You don't want it?"

"I spent weeks going to St. Catherine's for this. I prayed for you and Julian every single day."

"I get it though. I'm just the girl Julian took in off the street. Why would you want anything from me."

The women at the table were already whispering.

"Wow. She goes to all that effort and can't even get a thank you."

"That poor girl has nothing and she's still thinking about everyone else. Honestly, it's a little embarrassing for the actual wife."

I forced a smile and said I loved the thought, and I'd absolutely keep the necklace.

But I was already wearing one tonight and it would look odd to switch mid-dinner.

Seraphina wiped her eyes and looked at me like a kicked puppy.

"I know mine's nothing compared to yours. But I knelt on that chapel floor so long my knees were raw."

"Just try it on? For me? I promise it'll look so pretty."

She wasn't going to let this go.

Right then, a young man stepped into the hall and approached Julian with a polite nod.

"Mr. Thorne, sorry to interrupt. Mrs. Sterling asked me to come get Mrs. Thorne. She's expecting her for tea."

My heart slammed against my ribs.

Seth. The one who pulled my remains from a county crematorium and buried me with his own hands.

He glanced at me, just for a second. Something careful in his eyes.

I was about to use this as my exit when Seraphina latched onto my arm.

"Oh, put the necklace on before you go. You don't want to show up at Mrs. Sterling's wearing something nicer than hers, do you?"

She was already reaching for my neck with the chain.

Seth spoke up.

"Hang on. I feel like I've seen you before. Were you at the Harrington Group event last fall? I swear you were with their team."

Seraphina went still.

Then she laughed, light and easy.

"Oh no, you've got the wrong person. Julian rescued me. I don't exactly run in those circles."

Seth let it go.

I jumped in.

"Mrs. Sterling's waiting, I shouldn't keep her. Seraphina, I'll wear it tonight, I promise. It's not going anywhere."

I turned to leave and Seraphina grabbed my wrist.

"It takes two seconds. Why are you making this so hard? Unless you're just trying to get away from me."

Then she stumbled sideways and crashed right into Seth.

"Get off me! He just grabbed me!"

She clutched her side and the tears poured down.

The women at the table went off.

"Did he seriously just put his hands on her?"

"God, that's vile. Someone get him out of here."

Seraphina was shaking, tears streaming, the whole performance pitch-perfect.

"I don't care where I come from, no one gets to touch me like that. I swear to God I'll call the police."

She lurched toward the edge of the marble bar counter and Julian was on his feet in a second, pulling her into his chest.

Seth backed up with both hands raised, palms out.

"I didn't touch her. She stumbled into me. My hands were up the whole time. I never made contact."

Seraphina buried her face in Julian's shirt and sobbed louder.

Julian's jaw was locked.

"Get him out. Now. Call security."

I stepped forward. "Julian, Beatrice Sterling sent him. This is going to get back to her."

He didn't even look at me.

Seraphina lifted her head from Julian's chest, eyes red and wet.

"Why are you taking his side? Unless you liked it when he touched you. Is that what this is?"

Pure poison. She was putting the image in Julian's head that Seth and I had something going on.

Julian looked at me and his eyes went cold. Whatever I'd said about Beatrice didn't matter anymore.

I opened my mouth but Seth cut in, hands still raised.

"Mr. Thorne, do whatever you want to me. But Mrs. Sterling is still waiting for an answer. Let me do my job and I'll be out of your house."

Something inside me cracked.

If I said one more word in his defense, it would look exactly the way Seraphina wanted it to look.

Seth knew that. He was taking the hit so I wouldn't have to.

I was shaking.

My eyes landed on the necklace in Seraphina's hand and something clicked into place.

She wanted to poison me and take my place.

Fine. I'd give her a taste of her own medicine.

I looked at Seth and wondered what he would choose.