Chapter 24.4

Christina’s face tightened. “What nonsense?”

“Enough!” Diana snapped, exasperated. This whole thing was Christina and Brittany’s fault. “I’m done.”

“Me too,” Lauren agreed, a rare show of solidarity.

With Diana and Christina out, the other women followed suit. The officers, equally frustrated, saw through Brittany’s innocent act.

“Your decision?” an officer asked Donna and Daisy.

“We’re pressing charges,” Donna stated firmly. Daisy, her speech slurred, nodded emphatically. “And I want a medical exam!”

“Then everyone’s coming to the station.” The officers wasted no time.

Panic seized Brittany. She clutched Christina’s arm. “Mom, I’m not going! They’ll ruin me!”

Christina, equally panicked, shook her head. “We’re not going! We did nothing!”

“You assaulted someone and think you can walk away?” An officer grabbed Brittany’s wrist. “Come quietly, or we’ll use force.”

Donna and Daisy apologized to the others, nodded to Paisley, and left. The officers hauled a struggling Brittany out. “No! Let me go! Mom! Help!”

Brittany’s screams broke Christina’s heart. “Brittany, don’t be scared! I’ll save you!” Watching Brittany go, rage filled Christina’s eyes. She glared at Paisley. “You ingrate, you’ll regret this!” Then she ran after them.

A sigh of relief swept the hall. Young women hugged their mothers, feeling unexpectedly guilty for their past rebellion. Their mothers, in stark contrast to Paisley’s, were amazing.

Even Lauren felt a pang of regret. Paisley looked so pitiful. She hadn’t appreciated her before.

“Paisley,” Lauren began, softening her tone, offering a smile.

But Paisley’s gaze went straight to Diana, who held her hand, affection in her eyes.

“Ms. Sutton, you’ve had a hard time,” Diana said kindly. If Nathaniel marries her, she thought, I’ll treat her like a daughter.

“Diana, please, just call me Paisley,” she replied politely. There was still a generation gap.

“Paisley then,” Diana chirped, oblivious to Julia’s subtle frown.

Julia had witnessed the whole drama. Paisley’s past was far more dramatic than she’d imagined. At seventeen or eighteen, Paisley had raised tens of millions for her family. Her success wasn’t Dominick’s money; it was her own. If she marries Nathaniel, Julia thought, there’s no room for me or Morris. She can’t be allowed near the Beaumonts.

Paisley checked the time. Serena should be awake. “Diana, my daughter’s still in the hospital. I need to go.”

Diana escorted her to the door. “Go. We’ll chat again. I love your paintings and shows! Huge fan!” She couldn’t resist a final attempt to win Paisley over.

Lauren, frustrated, tried to approach Paisley, but Paisley ignored her, getting into her car and driving away.

“Paisley!” Lauren called, regret etched on her face.

The other women exchanged glances. They’d never seen Lauren so flustered. Diana, beaming, said, “I just clicked with Paisley. She’s perfect for Nathaniel!”

Diana’s triumphant expression as she passed Lauren left Lauren frozen with anxiety. She had to get home and tell Dominick. Someone was trying to steal his wife.