bWillow /bbstepped /bonto the bterrace/bb, /bcatching both Charlie and Heather off guard.

bGiven /bthe situationb, /bbit /bbwas /bbeasy /bbto /bbguess /bthat the two shared ba /bbpast/bb. /b

The night breeze tousled Charlie’s hair and lifted the hem of Heather’s elegant bdress/b. The bdelicate /bsilk brushed against Willow’s arm. It felt soft and smooth. After a brief silenceb, /bHeather’s bvoice /bbcame /bbout /bstrained. “I’m not feeling well. Mrs. Zieglerb, /bcould you help me inside bto /bbrest/b?”

Smiling, Willow nodded. “That’s why bI /bcame. bI’ve /bbeen worried about you.”

Heather felt a warmth in her heart. She gently patted Willow’s hand. “Having you here makes me feel much better.”

Willow gave ba /bsoft smile and supported Heather bas /bthey left.

Behind them, Charlie watched his former lover walk away. The thought that he wouldn’t have another chance bto /bspeak with her like this pained him. Before he could stop himself, bhe /bblurted out, “bI /bcan give byou /beverything he bcan/b.‘

11

The words barely left his mouth before bregret /bbset /bin.

Heather halted for a brief momentb, /bbthen /blet out ba /bscoff. “With bjust /bwords?b” /b

Willow cleared her throat lightly.

Charlie was already embarrassed by Heather’s rebuke. But with Willow listening, his face burned even hotter.

But bhis /bfeelings weren’t Heather’s concern.

Willow led Heather into the master bedroom.

The room was vast, furnished with white and gold–ented piecesb. /bSheer organza drapes added an ethereal touch. Framed portraits of Heather adored the walls. bIt /bwas a clear testament to Timothy’s devotion.

Heathery down bto /bbrest/bb, /btaking Willow’s hand in hersb. /bb“/bbI /bmust have made a fool bof /bmyself tonight.”

Willow understood all too well and reassured her gentlyb, /bb“/bEveryone has a past. But people and things that are behind us shouldn’t weigh on our hearts. What matters bis /bcherishing the happiness we have now.”

Tears welled up in Heather’s eyes. “bIt’s /bnot him I care about. It’s my lost child. Mrs. Ziegler, that child was a part of me. Losing her bhas /bbeen my life’s bgreatest /bsorrow. If I never find herb, /bbI /bwill never truly be at peace. Wealth and status mean nothing. My only fear is failing Timothy’s love for meb./b”

Her voice trembled with emotion. Willow felt the weight of her grief and was about bto /bask for more detailsb. /b

bJust /bthenb, /bHeather’s bsecretary /bentered, carrying ba /bsmall pill and ba /bbss /bbof /bwaterb. /bb“/bMrs. Chapman, bit’s /btime for your medication.”

bKnowing /bbit /bbwasn’t /bthe time to linger, Willow excused herself.

She quietly bclosed /bthe door behind her and turned, only to find herself bface/b–bto/b–face with Jeffrey.

At tonight’s banquet, all the men were in formal evening wearb, /bbut not Jeffrey. In a dark gray shirt, ck bsuit/b, and tie, he had more of ba /bbbusiness /blook. His entire demeanor carried a bdistinct /bbtension/b.

Willow bwasn’t /bbentirely /bsurprised bto /bbsee /bhim.

After ball/bb, /bbJeffrey /bbwas /bTimothy’s nephew.

The bhallway /bbwas /bbquiet/bb, /bbremoved /bfrom the bnoise /bbof /bthe party bbelow/b. The warm blight /bbcast /bblong /bbshadows/b.

bJeffrey’s /bbgaze /blocked onto Willow. bHis /bbvoice /bwas slightly bhoarse /bwhen he finally spokeb. /b“Did byou /bget back btogether /bwith him? Do byou /bbhave /bfeelings for him again?”

bWillow /bsaw no point in bying /bbdumb/bb. /b

Jeffrey’s feelings bwere /bbtoo /bintenseb. /bShe had no bway /bbto /breturn them.

bAs /bshe leaned against the bwall/bb, /bher bexpression remained /bbcalm/bb. /b

“Call bit /bwhatever byou /bwant. bHe /band I bhave /bbalways /btaken bwhat /bbwe /bbneeded /bbfrom /beach otherb. /bbHe /bwanted ba /bbrespectable /bbwife/b, and bI /bwanted bthe /bbZiegler /bfamily’s bwealth/b. A woman like bme /bbcan’t /bafford to blive /bbfor /bblove /balone.

“Jeffreyb, /bI’m not who byou /bthink I am. bI’m /bbjust /ban bordinary woman /bbcaught /bup in the mundane, Money is bmy /bbonly /btrue blove/bb./b”

Jeffrey mutteredb, /bb“/bbIs /bthat so?”

After a moment, as if bcarefully /bweighing his next words, he locked beyes /bwith Willow and said, b“/bbI /bbcan /bbgive /bbyou /beverything he bcan/bb./bb” /b