Chapter 1: The Forgotten Promise
Clara's voice barely rose above a whisper.
"Lucy Harper... what were you doing?"
Lucy lowered her eyes.
"I was just talking to him."
"You weren't supposed to."
Clara glanced nervously toward the ballroom, where photographers surrounded Alexander Vale and his son.
"You could lose me this job."
Lucy nodded.
"I'm sorry."
But before either of them could say another word, Matthew quietly stepped away from the photographers.
Ignoring his father's assistant calling after him, he walked directly back to Lucy.
He raised his hands.
Thank you.
Lucy smiled and signed back.
You're welcome.
Several guests noticed.
A senator's wife whispered to another guest.
"I've never seen that boy smile."
Across the room, Alexander caught the exchange for only a second before another reporter pulled him into an interview.
He looked away again.
Matthew didn't.
May you like
For the rest of the evening, every chance he had, he searched the ballroom until he found Lucy.
For the first time in years, he wasn't counting the minutes until the party ended.
