Page 33 of Twins for the Off-Limits Lawyer

"She's also the most interesting woman in this room."

"James—"

"I'm just saying. If I didn't know better, I'd think she was born to this." He paused, studying me over his glass. "Though I suspect that might be exactly the problem."

Before I could ask what he meant, Mother's phone buzzed.

She glanced at the screen, and something flickered across her face—anticipation mixed with satisfaction. "Excuse me," she murmured, stepping toward the far corner of the terrace.

I followed at a discreet distance, pretending to study the garden arrangements while straining to catch fragments of her conversation.

"Yes, I understand the timeline... No, there can't be any delays... Perfect. The board meeting is locked in?" A pause, then Mother's laugh, cold and calculating. "You're quite right. When this is finished, she'll have no choice but to return to America where she belongs... Some problems solve themselves when given the proper encouragement."

Another pause—longer this time.

"Edward? Oh, he'll adapt. He always does what's best for the family, once he understands the consequences of not doing so... Yes, I've made that quite clear."

Mother ended the call and stood for a moment, staring out at the gardens. When she turned back toward the ballroom,her expression was serene and satisfied, like a cat that had just caught a particularly troublesome mouse.

As I watched Mother work the room after her call, stopping to whisper with Lord Pemberton, and sharing meaningful looks with several board members, a cold realization began to form.

This wasn't just about disapproval. This was orchestrated.

Mother had invited specific people tonight. People with influence. People with the power to make things happen quickly and quietly.

What exactly was she planning to make happen?

"Edward?" Lili's voice made me turn. She stood in the doorway leading to the terrace, having escaped the party for a moment.

"You looked like you needed some air," she said, stepping outside.

"Something like that." I couldn't tell her what I'd just overheard, couldn't reveal that Mother was actively working to destroy her life.

Lili moved to stand beside me at the railing, close enough that I could smell her perfume—something light and floral that mixed with the night air.

"Thank you," she said softly.

"For what?"

"For tonight. For letting me be part of this." She gestured toward the ballroom behind us. "I know your Mother... has reservations about me being here."

Reservations. That was one way to put it.

"Mother will adapt," I lied.

Lili was thoughtful for a moment. "She really is something else. The way she commands a room; the way everyone defers to her. I can see where you get your presence."

I turned to look at her fully. The moonlight caught in her hair, making the rubies at her ears gleam like drops of wine. She was so beautiful it hurt to look at her.

"Lili—"

Before I could finish whatever I'd been about to say, the terrace doors opened again. James emerged, followed by Cece, both looking like they'd been searching for us.

"There you are," Cece said. "I was wondering where my date had disappeared to."

"Just getting some air," Lili replied, but I caught the flush in her cheeks.

"Well, you'd better come back inside," James said. "Your Mother is asking for you, Edward. Something about introducing Lili to some board members from the opera foundation."

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