bChapter /b217

“I want to go see my cousinter,” Edith said, ncing at Justin to see if he minded.

Justin’s expression didn’t waver. He simply nodded. “Alright.”

The driver dropped Justin off first, at Nightingale.

Edith looked up at the bold, glowing letters of the club’s sign–Nightingale. It was thetest hotspot for young people, all neon edges and retro–futurist vibes, a slice of cyberpunk in the heart of Northcrest, where every square foot cost a fortune and most buildings looked identical. Nightingale, though, had a style all its own.

Justin stepped out of the car and told the driver, his tone cool and even, “Take Mrs. Hawksley to The Grand Majesty Hotel. Wait for her there.”

The Grand Majesty Hotel was where Lauren Shaw was staying.

Without another word or a backward nce, Justin disappeared through Nightingale’s doors.

As soon as he was out of sight, Edith’s face fellpletely.

She must have upset Justin somehow.

But she had no idea what she’d done to make him unhappy, which left her feeling helpless and

frustrated.

Inside The Grand Majesty Hotel, Lauren was putting on her makeup, getting ready to go out. She looked over just as Edith flopped onto the sofa with a gloomy sigh.

Lauren arched an eyebrow. “What happened? Let me guess–you got picked on at that wedding in Southborough and came straight here toin? I’m not driving across town to fight your battles, you know.”

Edith propped her chin in her hands, blinking at Lauren’s reflection in the mirror. “No one picked on me. I just made Justin mad, and now he won’t even talk to me.”

Lauren’s hand jerked, nearly smudging her eyebrow pencil.

Wowi. /iShe’d actually managed to annoy Justin?

That was the kind of thing that could shake the whole Sumner family.

“What exactly did you do?”

Lauren set down her pencil, giving Edith a sideways nce.

Edith shook her head, looking baffled. “I didn’t do anything.”

She recounted everything that had happened at the wedding in Southborough.

Lauren rolled her eyes so hard it was a wonder they didn’t get stuck. “Seriously? You’re dense, you know that? Lucille practically threw herself at Justin, and you didn’t even get mad. Instead, you offered to step aside for her. What do you expect Justin to think? It’s like you don’t care about him at all!b” /b

20:41

Edith protested, “It’s not that I don’t care. I just think, instead of clinging on and making a scene, it’s better if everyone keeps their dignity. Justin respects me, so I want to respect him, itoo/ii./i”

Lauren pressed her fingers to her temple, exasperated. “Respect and love aren’t the same thing. Be honest–do you even love Justin?”

That question silenced Edith.

She took a deep breath but didn’t answer.

After everything that had happened with Beckett Vance, Edith wasn’t sure love mattered all that much in a marriage. In the end, love seemed to depend on goodwill, and Beckett had run out of that–he couldn’t even give her basic respect anymore.

With Justin, their whirlwind marriage seemed to Edith like something best kept polite and peaceful. She didn’t want to think any further about the rest. After all, Justin hadn’t married her for love, either.

How exactly do you sustain a marriage with no love in it?

For Edith, respect was all she had left.

Lauren let out a long sigh. “Honestly? Maybe it’s better this way. Love’s not all it’s cracked up to be, anyway–the deeper you fall, the harder it is to climb out. But still, as Justin’s wife, you need to at least act like you care about him. Do you get that?”

Edith shook her head. “Not really.”

Lauren nced at the clock, then grabbed Edith’s hand. “Good thing I’ve got a party to go to. Come with me, iand /iI’ll exin it all on the way.”