Chapter 1 - THE WOMAN WHO CAME BACKThe last time I left the Brooks mansion, Madeline Carter stood inside the entrance and watched the doors close behind me.
Eight months later, she stood in the same place.
This time, I was walking in.
Warm golden light filled the grand hall.
Crystal chandeliers reflected across the polished marble floor.
Designer furniture had been arranged around white floral displays.
Several dozen guests wore expensive evening clothes and held crystal glasses.
They had gathered to honor Evelyn Brooks on what would have been her sixty-fifth birthday.
Evelyn had been my mother-in-law.
She had also been the first member of Nathan’s family to recognize that something was wrong inside the mansion.
I wore a champagne-colored evening dress she once selected for me.
My long dark-brown hair rested against my shoulders.
In my handbag was a sealed envelope Grace Miller had delivered that morning.
The envelope contained the reason I returned.
Madeline saw me before anyone else did.
Her hand tightened around her champagne glass.
She wore an emerald-green designer dress and diamond earrings.
Every blonde wave lay perfectly against her shoulders.
For several seconds, neither of us moved.
Then she walked toward me.
“What are you doing here?”
“I was invited.”
“By whom?”
“Grace.”
Her eyes moved toward the housekeeper standing near the dining-room doors.
Grace lowered her gaze.
Madeline turned back to me.
“This is a family gathering.”
“I am Nathan’s wife.”
“Not for much longer.”
The guests nearest us stopped speaking.
Eight months earlier, I had left Dallas after being accused of stealing financial documents from the Brooks family trust.
Nathan and I never filed for divorce.
We also had not lived together since.
He believed I had concealed evidence involving his mother’s estate.
I believed he had chosen his family’s reputation over me.
Neither of us knew the full truth.
Madeline stepped closer.
“Leave before Nathan arrives.”
“He knows I’m coming.”
That was only partly true.
I had sent him a message.
He had not answered.
I did not know whether he had received it.
Madeline’s expression told me she knew more than I did.
“You are not wanted here.”
“This house belonged to Evelyn.”
“It belongs to the family.”
I touched the envelope inside my handbag.
“Then the family should see what she left behind.”
Madeline’s confidence cracked.
Only for a second.
“What do you have?”
“A letter.”
Her eyes moved to my bag.
“Give it to me.”
“No.”
She reached toward the handbag.
I stepped back.
Several guests turned fully toward us.
Grace began walking in our direction.
Madeline lowered her voice.
May you like
“You should never have come back here.”
Then she grabbed my arm.
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