After ending the call, the middle-aged woman exhaled deeply and placed the phone on her lap. Her eyes fell on the younger woman sitting restlessly on the sofa across from her. Gloria, of course, was anxiously awaiting news.

"What did he say? Am I right about Ashton being with another woman?" Gloria asked.

Victoria Hemmingway, the elegant middle-aged woman, shook her head briefly. Having Gloria visit her two days in a row was beginning to interfere with her activities, especially since this matter involved her son, Ashton.

Victoria had long known Gloria's feelings for Ashton since their youth, but she had never wanted to interfere. Now Gloria was dragging her...