Chapter 6 — The Reading

The formal reading of the estate was set for the following week, at Jace Carlton’s offices downtown — a high floor, glass walls, a long table of dark wood.

Demi arrived in a tailored black dress, flanked by Gareth and by a probate attorney whose hourly rate she had not blinked at, because soon, she was certain, she would be paying for such things out of a bottomless account.

She swept into the conference room already composing her face into dignified, patient grief.

Brandon was already there, seated on the far side of the table beside Teresa Pearson and Seth Coleman. Demi’s gaze slid over him and caught. The orderly again.

Here. In the lawyer’s office, at the reading of her husband’s will. The cold current came back and this time it did not pass.

Jace waited until everyone was settled, then opened a red leather binder and folded his hands on top of it.