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“Like I said, Wallace’s decency always prevailed—which, in this case, backfired During a playful ether, he stupidly told her about the bet He assumed she’d be aame, she considered to be the ultimate betrayal and humiliation I don’t know all the details Nor did I ask I only know that Wallace was a wreck when he cas between them, and why Then, he went off like a wounded bear—cut himself off from everyone He spent the week before the holidays holed up in his town house He wouldn’t talk to a soul The only reason he went ho as for Sophie He’d never let her spend a Christmas without him”

Sloane wasdates “You said the affair lasted over three years, and ended before the holidays So that was December 2005”

“That’s right”

“Did Wallace say anything else, describe anything else, that you can reround, her faether?”

Matthened “I re she didn’t like to talk about her past I think she had so-out with her family, after which she severed all ties with the in a bar He put a stop to that right away, and helped get her a job as a hostess in an upscale restaurant while he tried to kick-start her art career He said there was a fineness about her that s” A hint of a smile “That’s old-money Wallace for you Always a keen eye for class Anyway, other than that, all he talked about was the present”

“Thank you, Dad”

Sloane had all she needed—well, almost Her father’s story dovetailed perfectly with Lucy’s Wallace was the rich, otten involved with and, ultima

tely, coic aftermath of their relationship, which Wallace probably knew nothing about, all stemmed from an idiotic bet about Meili’s virtue There were pieces to the equation still —like what the connection was between Meili and Cindy Liu—but those could be uncovered As for Cindy’s sudden appearance in Wallace’s life—now that was no coincidence Not with the so physically similar But her father had ht be worth a thousand words But there was nothing like the real thing to confirm the facts

“Do you want to tell

“I can’t Not yet But I do need onefrom you” Sloane clamped a hand on her father’s arm and led him to the door “I need you to take a quick look at someone and tell me what you see”

“What I see?” Matthew looked utterly baffled

“Don’t ask questions Just wait till I tell you Then, look” Sloane eased the door open a crack and peered out, scanning the roo quietly to each other An instant later, Wallace nodded, crossing over to get their coats, and leaving Cindy standing alone

Sloane waited until Cindy was turned in their direction, her face visible frole

“Now,” she directed, pointing at Cindy through the narrow slit in the doorway and urging her father’s focus onto her

Matthew complied, and started in surprise “That’s Meili I don’t understand When did she get here? Why didn’t Wallace tell me that—”