The media war began on a Tuesday morning, and Ruby was not prepared for how fast everything would escalate.
She was in the kitchen, helping Elle with her maths homework—fractions, which neither of them understood—when Mia burst through the door like a hurricane in designer heels, her phone held high like a weapon.
"Have you seen this?"
Ruby looked up from the worksheet. "Seen what?"
Mia shoved the phone in her face. On the screen was a news headline in bold, aggressive type:
"STERLING FOUNDATION UNDER SCRUTINY: Critics Question Garden's True Purpose"
Ruby read the article quickly, her stomach sinking with every word. It was a hit piece, disguised as investigative journalism but dripping with innuendo. It questioned the foundation's finances. It implied that the garden was a tax shelter. It suggested that Ruby and Nicholas were using their "charitable work" to hide their wealth and avoid scrutiny.
"This is Cavendish," Ruby said flatly.
