Cold sweat soaked through her thin nightgown, pasting it to her s

ass of water, but she ignored it. She grabbed her smartphone, her thum

date display glowing brigh

ber

six months befo

She dropped the phone onto the mattress. She threw the

ug. Her knees buckled instantly,

r kneecaps. She scrambled up and sprin

vase on a pedestal. It wobbled wildly, but she did not stop to look. Her

shoved it open with so much force that the heav

sun filled

a clean yellow dress, quietly brushing the hair of a plastic d

floor and pulled Clara into her chest. She wrapped

wn Elliana's cheeks. They s

d the doll and patted Elliana's back wi

eady, strong pulse of her daughter's heartbeat against h

tmare. It was a warning. A second chance granted by the universe. In her past life, she had shrunk herself into nothingness, hoping her submission would earn her family's safety. It had on

re both alive. She had

eps echoed from the hall

milk on a small tray. Her eyes swept over Elliana sitting on the floor

ster's breakfast," Marta said. Her tone was flat

was the mole. Marta was the one who reported her every move to Kyle. Marta wa

id not lower her head. She did not bite the inside

. Her eyes were as cold

lf-step backward, her grip tightening on the t

hroat. Her fingers twitched with the urge to caus

," Elliana ordered. Her vo

She frowned, walked over to the small table, and slammed the

ch. She stared direc

liana said. "Do not

stopped her. She muttered something under her breath, turned on her h

shut. She walked into the adjoining ba

protect Devontae's fragile ego. She had hidden her degree from the Rhode Island School of Design. She had bu

her and her da

onto her face, scrubbing her skin until it turned re

grabbed the conservative, dull dresses Devonta

harp, tailored black silk blouse. She put it on. The fabric

buzzed on

alendar notification

mily Charity Ga

el smile spread across her lips. The fi