Edith’s gaze lingered on the breakfast spread, then slowly drifted upward until she met Justin’s serious face–no hint of a joke in his expression.

She wondered if she’d misheard him.

“What did you say?”

Justin smiled at her shock, his demeanor casual as he held out his phone. “It’s Stein. He’s calling. Do you want to take it?”

Before Edith’s mind could catch up, her hand had already reached for the phone.

She pressed Justin’s phone to her ear and, hearing the polite voice on the other end, still couldn’t quite believe it.

Justin stood up and gently ruffled her hair, teasing, “Is Stein some kind of monster? You look terrified. Cat got your tongue?”

Edith frowned, utterly taken aback as she spoke.

It really was Stein.

He was the hottest name in their field these past few years–a towering figure everyone admired.

And now he wanted to have lunch with her. How could she not be stunned?

“Miss Sumner, good morning. I was wondering if you might have some free time–would I be lucky enough to invite you to a meal?”

It took Edith a moment to find her voice after Stein’s question. “Mr… Mr. Lockwood, hello. I’m free anytime.”

Stein paused as if in thought. “Well, since your schedule’s flexible, why don’t we let Mr. Hawksley choose the time? By the way, Miss Sumner, your mural at Riverbend Zoo was absolutely brilliant. It’s the most striking piece I’ve seen all year.”

To be praised by someone of his stature, Edith couldn’t help but feel a little

embarrassed. She lowered her head. “You’re too kind.”

Stein had never expected that his benefactor’s wife would turn out to be

Edith–someone from his own graduating ss.

Back when he was at Northcrest University, he’d heard her name more than once, and even crossed paths with her a few times.

16:41

She always dressed with a simple elegance, like a wildflower after a shower. There was always a Mercedes waiting for her outside.

At first, the rumors around campus were nasty–some said she was being kept by someone wealthy. Then, when her boyfriend turned out to be just an ordinary guy her age, the whispers shifted, iming she was settling early, giving up on ambition. The stories grew uglier by the day.

But Edith never seemed to care. She floated above it all, untouched.

That was what Stein had admired most–her unshakable sense of self. She never paid any mind to the rumors; she simply lived her life.

And in the end, she proved everyone wrong. While the gossips sneered that she’d given up, her senior project outshone almost everyone else’s. Even now, her work still hung in the Northcrest University gallery, hailed as one of the best graduation pieces the school had ever seen.

For a long time, Stein had thought that someone as perfect as Justin would never find an equal.

But looking at Edith now, he had to admit–they were actually a great match.

Justin’s phone buzzed again with another call.

It was Sarah.

“Pennie Hawksley’s wedding is this weekend. We won’t make it back in time–you’ll have to go in our ce.”

Pennie?

Justin’s thoughts flickered to other people, his brow arching as he hesitated to

answer.

On the other end, Sarah sensed his reluctance. “I know you have your reservations, but she’s family. We can’t make it, and if you don’t go either, it’ll be a bad look. If you’re really ufortable, why not leave Edith here in Northcrest and just go to Southborough for the wedding yourself?”

212