A faint smile shadowed Brendan’s lips. “Thank you.”

He meant it.

Madame Brighthall said nothing. She left.

But the controversy did not end there. Mr. Jensen’s speech had kicked up a storm. As Brendan shut his laptop, Sam remarked, “I have a feeling Mr. Jensen planned all of this down to the little speech he gave. He even had pictures of Miss McKinnon living in the villa so he could strike at the affair’s angle.”

“It’s that coward’s only way to stay alive after the grave he dug,” Brendan gr