The Lawsons hadpletely fallen out with the Howards.


    Now that She was back, it suggested the tension had eased—at least a little.


    Given how close he was with She, he''d never embarrass Timothy in public by making a scene.


    Yates, on the other hand, fixed Timothy with a thoughtful stare. "She''s got a point. No woman could put up with that much for so long. Why don''t you bring her over and introduce us? She deserves at least that much."


    "There''s nothing to exin."


    Timothy picked up his ss, taking a long, punishing swallow of whiskey.


    Jessica, that woman just couldn''t behave.


    He''d handled everything for her, made it all so easy. All she had to do was send him a single message, and he''d let bygones be bygones, bring her home.


    But of course.


    She just had to ruin his mood.


    Still, if she came to him now, made the first move, maybe just maybe he''d forgive her this once.


    She noticed Jessica was gone. Rising from her seat, she put on a show of mock annoyance. "Timothy, you- What am I supposed to do with you? Oh, forget it. If you won''t go get her, I''ll do it myself."


    She nced in the direction where Jessica had been only moments ago.


    "Huh? Where did she go?"


    Timothy looked up just in time to see that familiar figure had vanished, and his eyes darkened instantly.


    A tight line formed on his lips, simmering with irritation.


    Kane gently tugged She back down into her seat. "If Timothy can''t be bothered, let''s not meddle either."


    With Timothy acting so nonchnt, Kane was more convinced than ever- Timothy didn''t care at all about the woman who''d given him a son.


    She still looked uneasy. "But-"


    "Oh,e on, enough with the ''but.'' Have some fruit."


    Kane speared a piece of fruit with a stic fork and handed it to She.


    She hadn''t seriously intended to go fetch Jessica anyway, so she epted the gesture and let the matter drop.


    Timothy stubbed out his nearly spent cigarette in the ashtray. "I''m going to use the restroom."


    The moment Timothy slipped away, an odd tension seemed to settle over the group.


    Kane raised his ss, nodding at Yates for a toast.


    "Yates, do you think Timothy will actually get a divorce?"


    Yates arched an eyebrow. "Hard to say."


    They''d all assumed Timothy would file for divorce, but seven years hade and gone without so much as a rumor.


    Kane shot She a knowing look. "What about you, She? Any thoughts?"


    She''s cheeks flushed pink. "How should I know?"


    Standing just outside the restroom, Timothy made a call to his secretary.


    "My wife''s at the Red House. Come inside and find out what she''s up to."


    He hung up without waiting for a reply.


    This wasn''t the kind of ce she should be.


    Red House was one of Yates''s properties.


    A few minutester, Timothy received a text.


    He couldn''t help but smirk.


    Interesting.


    Definitely Timothy''s style.


    Yates replied to a message, then lifted his ss and clinked it against Kane''s.


    "Kane, think Timothy''sing back after the restroom?"


    "We''re not done here-why wouldn''t he?"


    Yates swirled the wine in his ss, smiling faintly. "I have a feeling there''s going


    to be quite a show at Red House tonight."


    She picked up on the subtext, frowning. "Yates, what are you getting at?"


    A vague unease crept into her voice.


    Yates twirled his wine ss, his tone teasing. "Spoiling the surprise would be no fun. Just wait and see."


    Kane raised an eyebrow. "Come on, man, don''t keep us in suspense."