It was still her-the stunning, icy, goddess-like Ms. Newsom, the superstar everyone in town gossiped about.

    If anything, she looked even more untouchable than before. After surviving a major disaster, her eyes had taken on a colder, sharper edge, making her seem every bit the queen people said she was.

    When she saw Tarquin, she actually got up to greet him. "Mr. Bradford," she said smoothly.

    Her feelings toward Tarquin wereplicated: a dash of nervousness, a hint of resentment, and a whole lot of gratitude.

    The nerves? Well, that was thanks to Tarquin''s power and the way he always seemed to get his way.

    The resentment? He''d put Elysia through hell back in the day.

    The gratitude? He''d made things right-Elysia was finally happy now, andtely, Tarquin had gone out of his way to help her out.

    "Don''t be so formal. Take a seat," Tarquin said, nodding politely. He was about to sit beside his wife, ready for a bit of cozy time, when his phone buzzed.

    He nced at the caller ID and was surprised to see Jessamine Huber''s name sh up.

    Elysia noticed, too. "Jess? You should pick up."

    Tarquin answered right in front of her. "Hey, Jess."

    Jessamine''s voice was frantic. "Tarquin, do you have a minute?"

    "Sure, what''s going on?"

    "It''s Keaton-he''s in trouble. Like, real trouble! Please help him, Tarquin, I''m begging you!"

    Tarquin''s brow furrowed. "What happened?"

    Jess sounded like she''d been crying. "The butler told me Dad''s about toy down thew-old-school style. He''s threatening to beat Keaton ck and blue! I have no idea what Keaton did this time to piss him off, but Dad doesn''t mess around when he gets like this."

    "Keaton''s so skinny, he can barely bench-press a carton of milk. I''m scared Dad''s going to hurt him for real. But I''m stuck out in Border City for work-I can''t get there in time. Please, Tarquin, could you go check on them? I''m so worried."

    Jessamine was practically sobbing now. She was Keaton''s older sister, and sure, she could knock him around herself, but that was sibling business. Underneath it all, she really loved the kid-just like any normal brother and sister.

    And Jessamine was pregnant, too. Tarquin tried to reassure her. "Hey, take it easy. Mr. Huber might have a heavy hand, but he''s not going to actually hurt Keaton. Do you know what set him off this time?

    Jess sniffled. "I think it''s another rtionship mess-something with Beatrix Sutton, but I don''t know the details. I tried calling Mom and Dad, but they''re not picking up."

    "...I''ll head over there now. I''ll let you know what''s going on once I find out."

    "Thank you, Tarquin. Thank you so much!"

    Tarquin hung up and turned to Elysia. "I need to go to the Hubers'' ce."

    Elysia had picked up most of the story. "Keaton''s dad''s about to rough him up?"

    "Yeah. Jess said it''s because of Beatrix, but I''m not sure. I should check it out." Elysia raised an eyebrow. "Is it really that bad?"

    Tarquin nodded, his expression serious. "When Mr. Huber gets old-school, it''s for real."

    Elysia frowned. "I''ming with you."

    Tarquin blinked. "You are?"

    "I know psychology," Elysia said. “Maybe I can talk Mr. Huber down a bit. Plus, it''s my first time visiting-maybe he''ll go easy with an outsider there."

    That actually made sense. Mr. Huber could be a real hard-ass, and even Tarquin didn''t always get through to him. But Elysia''s first visit might make him hold back a little.

    Then Winona chimed in from across the room. "Well, it just so happens I have a gift in my trunk-perfect for the asion. Mr. Huber''s done me more than a few favors, so count me in. I''m no psychologist, but I know a thing or two about rtionships. Maybe I can help."

    Tarquin nodded. “Sounds good. Let''s all go."

    So the three of them piled into Tarquin''s SUV-he drove, while Winona and Elysia settled into the back seat.

    Elysia still looked skeptical. "Keaton''s a grown man. Does his dad really still beat him?"

    Tarquin nced at her in the rearview mirror, a slight frown on his face. "When ites to family discipline, Mr. Huber doesn''t mess around."

    And with that, they set off for the Hubers'' estate, not knowing what kind of chaos they''d find waiting for them.