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She turned her attention elsewhere, not wanting to intrude on the lovers, and there was no doubt they were in love Slowly she ahter and exciteh it had been the last place she’d wanted to be this evening, especially after Max told her he wanted a divorce It justback to her flat and being alone with herin her head was far worse

Across the other side of the roo to some of his teala in their cocktail dresses and the men handsome in their tuxedos, but Max stood out Like the lion who led the pride, there was no doubt he was the ultimate alpha male Maybe that was her problem He could never allow her into his heart because he kept it so well hidden in his pursuit of complete dominance and superiority

‘Penny for them?’ A cheeky feht dead

‘Angelina’ Max’s sister had changed since she’d last seen her, over sixwoman, whose hair was even darker than Max’s, she realised howshe’d been treated to, it was a ood to see you Happy birthday’

Angelina held her chalass in one hand, and tilted her head to the side, a big smile on her face ‘So is it true?’

‘What?’ Lisa s next, because if there was one thing you could guarantee with Angelina it was complete honesty

‘You and Max are back together’ Before Lisa could say another word, Angelina hugged her with one arle ‘I knew it’

‘We spent Christ the reason that had brought her and Angelina’s brother back together While Angelina would have to know her brother was going to make her an aunt, it was up to him to tell her Just as it was up to hih with the divorce

‘And I hear congratulations are in order That you are expecting’ Angelina raised her brows at the elderflower cocktail and stood back, s at Lisa, then her expression turnedit?’

‘Max? Taking it?’ Lisa couldn’t work out what Angelinato find out ‘What do you mean precisely?’

‘You don’t know, do you?’ Shock filled Angelina’s face, the light and fun o slipped away as if they’d walked out of the party, and if Lisa wasn’t mistaken there was pity in her eyes too

‘No, but you are going to tell elina, but would she really want to hear it?

Angelina finished her chane, deposited the flute on a nearby table and took Lisa’s arhter of the party She stopped when they reached a long and very grand corridor The noise of the party was subdued as the doors closed behind the next that needed such drastic action She looked at Angelina as nerves took flight in her sto to keep at bay since she’d got up this

‘My elina began, but Lisa’s patience earing thin

‘I’m aware of that’

‘Has he also told you that she was diagnosed with cancer while she was carrying elina sed and Lisa knew this was affecting her faron That she too hid behind athe bubbly life and soul of the party to hide her pain and that she was telling her this uarded secret because it affected Max, affected her

‘I’ woman’s arm and for a moment the two of them were lost in their oorld ‘That must be hard on you’

‘It is, yes Mostly because itbrother, always insistent that I do things his way The argu from what school I should attend to what I should eat or ere impossible’

‘I have an older stepbrother who doesn’t care one jot forin her

‘I’dthe ht you would already know’