The doorbell rang just as the late afternoon sun dipped low, streaking gold across the living room. My heart skipped. I had not expected him today. Matthew rarely returned home unannounced, especially with the Quentino Project and the Montgomery scandal weighing heavily on the Wellington family.

I set my glass of water down and walked toward the door, bracing myself. When I opened it, he was there, standing with a bouquet of pale pink roses in one hand, a small gift box in the other, and a ...