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Having him love her—what a ridiculous fantasy that had been!

Her head pounded She felt almost physically sick But she pushed the pain aside She would deal with that later Tonight, she had a job to do

She’d make his dinner party perfect He would never have reason to co less than an exemplary housekeeper

Then, afterward, she would tell hinant Not because she still hoped he ht care But because her baby deserved a father, and Rafael deserved the truth He deserved that much, and no more

The doorbell rang, and she lifted her chin

“I’,” she said sweetly “I have no tie my clothes Excuse me”

Pushing past him, she opened the door

That night, as the guests arrived, Louisa personally stood near the door to take their coats The house was all in readiness; she’d supervised everything As she took each coat, she saw that each guest was more powerful, wealthy and beautiful than the last She watched Rafael greet each of them, some with handshakes, some with slaps on the back

But not the woreeted each of them with a kiss on both cheeks The five wole one of the No wonder Impeccably dressed in a tuxedo with a black tie, he was beyond handsoel of his namesake

He didn’t look at Louisa He seemed not to notice she was there, any randfather clock or the antique hat rack that she’d lovingly chosen for thisher, were to be used and then discarded at hen he no longer found them useful

She clenched her hands, trying to ignore the pain

“Do past Louisa to help the beautiful blond starlet remove her white fur coat He pulled it off her shoulders hilad to see you”

“Rafael” The infamous French beauty reminded Louisa of a pa blue eyes and fluffy bleached-blond hair Her sparkly gold hs on the hemline She smiled up at him with her curved red lips “I wouldn’t miss your birthday, chéri”

Looking at theether, Louisa suddenly felt how plain she was, how tall and ungainly and skinny in her five-year-old black dress A sharp pain rose in her throat Twenty ht she looked rather pretty in the mirror but now she felt as drab as a sparrow Why hadn’t she just stayed in her gray slasses? At least then no one would have snickered at the plain girl as actually trying to look pretty, as apparently under the delusion she could compete with someone like Dominique Lepetit!

Rafael and Dominique were suited for each other in every way, both physically and by reputation The French starlet was as well-known for discarding love-tortured suitors