"Fiance? Conrad?" Ethan's voice cracked like a whip, raw with disbelief.
His carefully maintained composure shattered instantly, replaced by something ugly, a grotesque mix of shock and utter denial. He stared at Vesper like she had grown a second head. "Say that again. Who is your fiance?" Each word dripped with venom.
Vesper did not even blink. "The eldest son of the Sterling family, Conrad." She enunciated every syllable, watching with dark amusement as his face twisted.
"This cannot be happening."
"Wasn't the Lynd-Grant alliance all but confirmed? Since when did the Sterlings enter the picture?"
"What Sterlings? There aren't any notable Sterling families in Norbridge."
A society matron sneered. "Bless your heart, how clueless can you be? That's the Bramfield Sterling family. Even
