Chapter 6: The Matchmaking Banquet

Nine days later, the Hartwell Grand opened its ballroom to the Aldrich family for the first time in its history.

Four hundred guests came.

Howard stood on the stage in his best suit, with Leigh on his arm in a pale green gown.

"This is my granddaughter, Leigh Aldrich," he told the room. "She is home, and she is my heir."

The applause was loud and a little shocked.

Half the city had watched the hospital video by now.

Leigh bowed her head to them.

By the end of the first hour, a line of Sleridge's best-looking bachelors had formed beside the champagne tower.

A shipping heir gave her his card.

A surgeon told her she had beautiful hands.

A young banker said he had never believed in love at first sight until tonight.

"Please stop," Conroy muttered behind her. "He's going to cry."

"He's twenty-six," the second brother said. "Let him."

Leigh was laughing into her glass when a voice she knew cut across the room.

"Leigh!"

She turned.

Blaine stood at the entrance in a black suit, with Talia on his arm.

Talia wore a white dress with a low back and a pearl neckline.

It was a copy of the dress Leigh had worn to her own engagement party.

The ballroom went quiet in patches, one table after another.

"Pemberton Group was invited as a supplier," Conroy said in her ear. "I didn't know he'd bring her."

"I did," Leigh said.

Blaine crossed the floor with Talia leaning on him.

"Leigh, we need to talk." His voice was strained and he was smiling for the cameras. "This has gone far enough. Everyone has had their fun."

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