The commotion finally ended when the McBride family took Cameron and Julianne away, and the stepmother slipped out early, too ashamed to stay.
The birthday gathering soon regained its warmth.
Simon was just about to check on Autumn when his assistant pulled him away on urgent business.
"Autumn Clayton, isn't it?"
Autumn turned to find Simon's older sister, Mia Laurent, standing before her, the woman she had been introduced to earlier in the hall.
She nodded gently. "Yes, that's right."
"Do you intend to explain what just happened?" Mia asked, her tone sharp and direct. "Or should I still call you Mrs. McBride? Simon is young and impulsive, but our family has no wish to be dragged into another scandal."
Mia carried herself with the commanding air of a born leader, her gaze steady and
