He let go of my arm immediately and adjusted his gold wristwatch twice, sliding the thick metal band back and forth over his wrist bone.

“Look, Elena, I lost my temper at church, and I’m sorry.

We’re brother and sister.

We can fix this without bank lawyers.”

I smoothed my skirt down over my knee with one hand, keeping my chin level despite the sharp throbbing in my lower lip.

“You struck me in front of Aunt Clara and twenty cousins, Julian.”

“I was under terrible pressure,” he whispered, stepping closer until his shoulder blocked the doorway back to the study.

“Dad had me running in circles for eight months, promise after promise, and then I saw that brass key sitting right on your collar.”