The entire banquet had been personally arranged by Leroy, the dutiful stepson.
He invited nearly every powerful name in Chicago.
When I arrived with Neil on my arm, the first thing I saw was Elise standing under the spotlight, Rachel by her side- just as polished and pretty.
The crowd was buzzing with flattery.
“Talk about a lucky woman–divorced, with a daughter, and still managed to marry into wealth.”
“Look how gorgeous they are. I heard Rachel studied abroad for ten years. Real brainiac, huh?”
“Wait, didn’t Mrs. Quinn have another daughter too?”
Someone glanced in my direction, then saw Neil next to me, and sucked in a breath.
“She married the Velvet Reaper? That’s some awful luck.”
“I heard that before the wedding, Neil dragged her in for a full medical check–up. Probably thought she was dirty or something…”
I blinked, confused. I was the one who got checked?
Neil thought I was unclean?
I glanced over at him quickly. But Neil was looking back at me with innocent eyes like he hadn’t heard a thing.
Rachel lifted her chin and strolled over.
“Congratulations on your marriage, Cecilia. I really didn’t expect you to marry… well, him,” she said, her voice sweet and sour all at once.
She stopped halfway through her sentence, throwing in a pointed little laugh.
“You have no idea–Leroy’s giving me such a big present today. Can you believe it? It’s Mom’s birthday, not mine.”
Elise gave me a once–over, her smile faint and unreadable.
“Cecilia, Neil’s treating you well, I hope?”
I gave a casual nod.
“You-” Elise started to say something else, but she was suddenly cut off.
Leroy had stepped up and tapped the microphone. The high–pitched feedback screeched through the air, silencing the
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08:43
Chapter 8
whole room.
Rachel quickly ran up to him with a smile.
But Leroy’s eyes were flat, cold.
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“Today may be Elise’s birthday, but I’ve prepared a very special gift for both of you–mother and daughter. Here’s to your everlasting bond,” he said slowly.
Rachel giggled, playing coy.
“Leroy, you’re too sweet.”
“Oh, the best part’s still coming,” Leroy said, brushing her cheek with his fingers–though his eyes looked like he wanted to strangle her.
Right then, two bodyguards dragged in a half–conscious man.
They dumped him to the ground like a rag doll–right at their feet. The man looked up, battered and shaking, and met
my eyes.
“Mrs. Quinn… Ms. Davidson… please, save me…”
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