All Jayne wanted was to make sure Edith’s life with her future inws would be as miserable as possible.

Jayne felt her breath catch in her throat, her vision swimming-she was this close to passing out.

Edith’s lips were bloodless as she stared daggers at Heather, who sat smugly in her chair. Edith clenched her jaw. “How could the Vance family ever be left without an heir? Your son’s not exactlycking in the fertility department, is he? If I can’t have children, can’t you just have him father a baby with Salome? And if Salome can’t conceive, what’s stopping him from knocking up some other woman? Either way, it’s still the Vance family’s bloodline, isn’t it?”

Most people in the room looked confused, but Heather understood perfectly well.

Heather’s heart skipped. Did Edith know about Beckett faking his death and masquerading as Bet?

For the first time all evening, a crack appeared in Heather’s self-satisfied

mask.

At first, panic flickered across her face. But Heather was a veteran in these games-she’d weathered storms far worse than this over the years. Even if Edith knew, so what? Who would believe her if she tried to spread such a story?

With that thought, Heather seemed to steady herself, the brief panic vanishing as she regained herposure.

She turned her attention to Jayne. Edith was proving hard to handle, but there were always easier targets.

“Look at the daughter you raised,” Heather sneered, addressing Jayne. “The way she talks-so vulgar, going on about ‘fathering children’ and whatnot. Absolutely disgraceful!”

12:23

Watching Heather pick on the weakest link made Edith’s fists clench so tightly she nearly drew blood from her own lips.

Jayne, meanwhile, went pale, her eyes rolling back as she slumped into a

faint.

Edith didn’t bother with pleasantries anymore.

She signaled to a rtive from the Sumner side of the family to help Jayne back to her room, then leveled her gaze at Heather. “A younger brother pretending to be the older one, getting his own sister-inw pregnant-if that’s not ‘fathering children,’ what is?”

The room erupted in shocked whispers.

Heather’s face turned an ugly shade of red as she tried to hold herself together, her voice raised and trembling with outrage. “Lies! You’re ndering the Vance family! How dare you stir up trouble like this-what kind of person does that?”

Whether or not it was true, the guests couldn’t help but whisper among themselves. If it was a lie, it was a vicious one. But if there was any truth

to it-what a scandal!

Edith was well aware that any dirt on the Vance family would taint her as well, since she used to be one of them. But Heather had gone too far. It was one thing for Heather to bully her, but the way she picked on Jayne just because Jayne was easier prey-Edith couldn’t stand it.

Enough was enough.

“If Ms. Preston feels wronged,” Edith said calmly, “why don’t we invite your son here and have it out in front of everyone?”

The conviction in Edith’s voice made it hard for anyone to doubt her.

The guests’ muttering grew louder, a chorus of indignation that left Heather stiff and cornered.

“Yes, if Edith’s making things up, why not bring your son here and clear the air? It’s a serious usation-best to get to the bottom of it,”

someone chimed in.

213

12:23

Surrounded by questioning stares and relentless whispering, Heather found herself at a loss. In the end, she mmed her hand on the table and got to her feet. Her goal had already been achieved-everyone knew Edith couldn’t have children. There was no need to exin her son’s business. She just had to deny, deny, deny.

“That’s enough! Not only are you making a scene, you’re leading everyone else into your nonsense!” Heather snapped. “Absolutely no ss. I’ve said what I had to say. If you keep envying Salome and scheming against the Vance family’s future, I won’t let you get away with it!”

12:23