The salty sea breeze snapped Edith awake.

She lifted her lips in a faint, wry smile. “It’s not that I’m immune ito /iwealth and status. But those things–if they’re meant for you, they’lle your way. If not, there’s no use chasing after them.”

Pennie mulled this over, her brow furrowed. After a long moment, she asked, “So what are you saying? That fate destined you ito /imarry Justin? You just got lucky, that’s all. Once Lucille and Justin clear up their

misunderstanding, if you don’t want things to get ugly, you’d do best to step aside on your own.”

Edith drew a deep breath, the tang of salt sharp in her nose. She ilooked /iat Pennie, a sudden concern flickering in her eyes–how could someone this blunt, this guileless, hope to hold her own against the scheming women circling Winston?

Pennie, meanwhile, seemed convinced she understood it all. She even tried tofort Edith. “You’re beautiful, you know. Finding another wealthy man would be a breeze for you. You’re still young. Ending a marriage that never should’ve started? It won’t hurt you. I get it–after you’ve been with a man like Justin, it’s hard to settle for less. But you need to let it go.”

She patted Edith on the shoulder, as if bestowing wisdom. “Justin isn’t stingy. When you divorce, he’ll be fair. Even if you can’t settle for less after him, you’ll have more than enough to livefortably for the rest of your life. And if, by some chance, Justin gives you nothing, I will. The Hawksley family has money to spare.”

Edith let out a helplessugh. “That’s awfully generous of you.”

Inside the restaurant, Justin sat across from Lucille.

He regarded her in silence for several seconds, then spoke coolly. “Didn’t you already say all thisst night? Are you questioning my hearing, or my memory?”

Lucille looked heartbreakingly vulnerable, her eyes brimming with tears as she gazed at him. “I’m not questioning anything. I know you’re angry with me–for keeping the truth from you. So now you’reshing out, and I’ll ept whatever you throw at me. It’s just… we were happy once,

weren’t we?”

Justin pressed his fingers to his temple, brow furrowed. “Lucille, iyou /iand I have never been together–not like that. I haven’t broadcasted it, out of respect for your reputation, but if you keep misleading people, I won’t stay silent next time.”

Because now, he had someone else to protect.

Pain shed across Lucille’s face. “Justin, is this just another way to hurt me? Isn’t this a little ridiculous? Back then, you helped the Lowell family. You helped me. Everyone envied what we had. Even after we separated, you married a woman who looks so much like me. How can you say we were never a couple?”

Justin’s gaze was steady, his voice level. “Lucille, did it ever ur to you that maybe you resemble my wife, not the other way around?”

In that moment, thest shred of strength that had kept Lucille going through her divorce overseas, the hope that had gotten her back to Southborough alone, crumbled to dust.

She stared at Justin in disbelief, then sprang to her feet, clutching his

hand.

“How could that be? How could I look like her? I was there first! We met before she ever came into your life!”

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