"But I want to say this clearly. Whatever I thought about the marriage, Vespera Ashborn is the victim here. I was the secret who knew and turned a blind eye to everything. Only me, the opportunistic bitch, and the man who kept that secret are the ones who should answer for what happened. That's why I must apologize to you, Kaiden Grey, and especially you, Lady Ashborn."
Natasha lowered her head. On camera, in front of millions, the woman with the cosmetics billboard face and the silk robe and the heavy-lidded blue eyes bent at the waist until her forehead nearly touched her knees. A full bow. The kind that left nothing to interpretation.
She held it.
Kaiden said nothing for a long moment. His arm was still around Vespera. His expression was hard to read. The anger from earlier hadn't left, but something else sat beside it now. A woman who had wronged his mother was apologizing to her, and he couldn't hate her for that even if he wanted to.
