Page 109 of Best Kept Vows

“Dolly’s going to have to sell the house. Did you see her clutch that Bulgari watch like the repo people were there to snatch it away?”

“I thought Sebastian and Lia were divorcing. They sure don’t look like it.”

“Birdie’s dress…my God. Is this a wake or a casting call forThe Real Housewives of Savannah?”

Everyone here had a smile for the camera and a dagger behind their back.

Sebastian and I had just managed to escape a round of forced condolences when Bryce came charging over, face blotchy, eyes glassy with what I could only assume was a toxic cocktail of anger and bourbon.

“This is on you,” Bryce spat, his voice low but laced with venom.

Sebastian barely reacted, sipping his drink as though Bryce’s presence was no more than a mild inconvenience. I was about to tell Bryce to take this to a private location, but I could see it would be a waste of my time and energy. He was too far gone, out of control.

“You sabotaged Boone Metals,” Bryce hissed, his fury growing. “You set me up to fail.”

A hush fell over the immediate area. People subtly inched closer, eager to witness the Boone family drama unfold firsthand.

“Bryce, not here.” Coco hurried to his side, clearly trying to minimize the fallout.

“Oh, come on, Colette,” Bryce snapped. “If your father had given me half the capital he gave him?—”

“Our father is dead,” Sebastian stated, voice low and even, the words hitting harder than if he’d shouted them.

Bryce’s face twisted. “You tanked the company. You did it on fucking purpose.”

Sebastian placed his glass on the marble bar withdeliberate calm, and turned to Dolly, who had just joined the fray, her eyes narrowed, searching.

“We’re leaving now, Mama,” Sebastian said evenly. “Goodnight.”

It was a full dismissal.

Final.

Devastating in its elegance.

Bryce lunged, fury written all over his face, but Sebastian sidestepped him with ease. Bryce stumbled but didn’t fall—thanks to Coco gripping his arm.

“You arrogant son of a?—”

“Enough!” Dolly snapped, stepping in front of Bryce like she was about to smack him with her Chanel clutch.

“You always take his side,” Bryce sneered.

That was when Ada and Tristan appeared, flanking Sebastian and me like bodyguards. I had to suppress a smile at how adorable they looked.

“Goodnight, Grandma,” Ada said with steel in her voice. She turned to me. “Time to go, yeah?”

“Time to go,” I echoed, slipping my hand into Sebastian’s.

Bryce’s voice followed us, venomous and pathetic. “You bitch?—”

“Hey!” Tristan got in his face so fast Bryce stumbled again. “You talking to my mother or my sister?”

Sebastian reached back, calmly pulling Tristan away. “He’s not worth it, son. Let him shout at the ghosts.”

We walked out together—Sebastian, me, and ourchildren.Together. And I realized that was the only legacy we needed to give a damn about.

CHAPTER 37