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“I said, you’re not allowed to talk tomy boyfriend. I’m worried about what you might say, and I don’t want you talking to the man I love.”

Easton freezes beside me. In hindsight, it might not have been the best time or place to tell him that I love him, too.

“You don’t wantmetalking to him?”

But I can’t back down now. “You have a track record of saying all the wrong things.”

“I have a record of saying—” Grandfather splutters. “That’s rich, coming from you.”

“I’m sure you threatened him already,” I say. “I’m not sure quite what you’re willing to do, but I’m guessing whatever it was would constitute a massive violation of due process.” I step closer. “And you should think very carefully about all the things I know that might harm you before you threaten anyone in my life again.”

“Before I threaten. . .” His eyes are wide, his lips open.

“Mom is the tip of the iceberg. I could tell them about how you always left me in her care. I could tell the media how you threatened my foster parents. I could tell them so many things that you don’t even know I know, from the mess with that oil company, to the things I heard you doing with the much-too-young woman I saw leaving your house six years ago. It was the week Grandmother was out of town with her friends. Florida, I think you said she was?”

Chew on that, old man.

“Beatrice Cipriani?—”

“From now on, I’m going to be called Beatrice Fansee,” I say. “They may not be able to adopt me, but Dave and Seren have been my parents for a very long time now. You can either get on board, or I’ll throw you right under the bus with a smile on my face.”

He swallows, straightens, glances around at thepeople watching us quietly, and nods. “I can see that tonight is not the right time to discuss this.”

I lean closer, drop my voice, and say, “And if I get even the smallest whiff that you’re bullying a local New York business to get your way, you had better believe that would be shared far and wide. A governor persecuting a New York business to further his own agenda would be an impeachable offense, and I’d be the first in line to testify.”

Grandfather’s completely unable to disguise his fury as he stomps away, and when he reaches my cardboard-cutout grandmother’s side, Grandmother grabs her bag without so much as a complaint and they head for the door.

Good riddance.

“I’m sorry,” I say. “I know that seemed nasty, but if you had any idea what a terrible person he is, you’d know it was a long time in coming.”

Easton shakes his head. “It was glorious.”

“I hope he didn’t threaten you with anything too horrible.”

His smile’s broad. “You know, he tried, but I actually might owe him a thank you for that.”

“Why?”

“It was the incentive I needed to stand up to my own personal Goliath.”

“Oh?”

“I signed an agreement this morning obligating me to sell my shares of Sacrifice Nothing—and my parents to sell their shares—to a friend of mine and his father. You heard us talking the other day.”

“Wait.” I grab his hand. “You didn’t.”

“I got the idea when your grandfather tried to bully me, but honestly.” He shakes his head. “It’s very freeing.I’m going to start over, and this time, I’m not going to take the company public. I’m going to find another latency, and I’m going to make that company exactly what I want.”

“But Easton, your whole life has been that company.”

“Not anymore it’s not.” He’s looking into my eyes. “It never should have been, and believe me. I’m getting a very,verylarge pile of money to ease any anxiety I have about it.”

“I can’t even remember when I met the groom.” Dave’s voice from the front of the room washes over us, and I realize I shouldnotbe up here, chatting while Aunt Barbara and Uncle Bentley’s wedding is underway. I’ve had my moment, but the rest of the moments are for them.

Easton and I find our seats pretty quickly.

I still feel a little bad about Easton selling his company, but surely it’s not too late to stop that from happening. Then I’m able to watch, eating the amazing salads the waitstaff keep bringing out, first a strawberry salad, and then a pasta salad, while our family members stand up and talk about Uncle Bentley and Aunt Barbara.

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