ests drove away. Amy walked out of the hall,
d draped it over Howard's shoulders. She tried to keep her
corner, waiting for the
a black Maybach gli
at license plate. She knew the custom tint on
heby's auction house. A valet in a crisp unifor
earing a perfectly tailored black tuxedo. The s
Instead, he turned back to the open c
a long, black velvet glove. It rested delicately
r shawl around her shoulders. Giselle looked up at him and smiled. Br
. Howard stood right beside he
y red. The hand gripping his wood
ross-border conference call. The lie she had told fifty people tonight to protect his image. It
stopped behind them. They followed Amy's gaze. A c
that. P
t like a needle driving
he concrete. "I am going to kill
"No, Dad. Please. Don't." She shook her head frantically. The tears she had
atch. She could not let these people watc
ttention instantly. He turned his head and squinted across the four lanes of traffic. A sudden flash from a passing tourist's camera illuminated the opposite corner for a
mile vanished from his face. A flash of pure pan
Giselle's waist. He took half a step
his line of sight and saw Amy crying. A tiny, triumphan
Her ankle suddenly gave out. She collapsed si
ught her by the waist before she hit the pavement. He held
ked back across the stre
f a yellow taxi. She slammed the door
irror. She watched the reflection of the stre
She leaned her head a
e said, his voice thick with sorrow. "Stop doing this to yourself. Stop bendin
houlder. She opened her mouth and let out a silent, agonizing so
/1/113105/coverbig.jpg?v=60b153d8fc84563874551e2474af58c0&imageMogr2/format/webp)