Rebecca lay sprawled across her wide, silk-draped bed, her makeup smudged from tears she refused to admit had fallen. Empty glasses littered her nightstand, the sharp scent of liquor hanging heavy in the air. The curtains were half drawn, leaving the room cloaked in a murky dimness that matched her mood.

She had been sulking for hours, her mind circling the same unbearable thought: Grandma Carter had betrayed her.

The one person who was supposed to be her ally, her strongest support, had cut her off without hesitation. Rebecca had always believed that as long as Elias’s grandmother approved, her place at his side was guaranteed. Elias might have ignored...