Chloe paused for a moment before saying, "The day after tomorrow is Cassie's birthday, and I've already got plans."

She wasn't fibbing.

Cassie's birthday really was coming up, and she'd made sure to arrange a party with Chloe at the villa in Blue Eyes Hills well in advance.

On the other end, Leah sounded a bit tentative. "Alright then, let's find another day, okay?"

Chloe just nodded in agreement.

After Leah hung up, she sighed deeply.

Jacob, sitting next to her, quickly asked, "So, did she say yes?"

Leah shook her head.

Jacob's face clouded over instantly.

"What's going on? It's such a simple task, and you still couldn't manage it. If Chloe doesn't come, how are we going to find a reason to visit the Shaw family? Haven't you noticed how Belle Époque's stocks have tanked? Why aren't you more concerned?"

are in freefall? Jacob, you've made all the big decisions over the years. When Missy swiped Chloe's competition spot, you turned a blind eye.

to push his wife's

wasn't particularly well-off, but he was a well-educated guy and quite the catch when he and Leah locked eyes at a ball. It was love

was almost as if

had always let Leah take

family's assets, and Leah had always

wife he'd appeased for so long, Jacob felt a wave of

out of habit,

invitation to their family dinner is a golden

Silence hung between them.

family had set the time, and

they were only in town for a couple

might mean there

turned them down

it really was Cassie's

practically inseparable, having grown up

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