staircase. Her heels sank

r, she nearly bumped into Helen Mercer. Her

ash of guilt crossed her face.

smile. She didn't try to please her. She walked straig

hed the d

cent hit her nose. It was

d her. Her eyes scanned the room like a therma

sliding door was slightly ajar. A thin lin

crouch

of old shoeboxes, a single pea

pulled a tissue from the vanity, wrapped i

ought at auction last week. Bria had bee

nstantly. Bria hid the jewelry in

ck rattled th

Helen's soft, anxious voice

arring into her vanity drawer. Sh

mmediately went to the open suit

ase..." Hel

rs. She gave short, empty replies. Her di

out and grabbe

hat downstairs? Did Bri

d. She stared at the woman who had raised

o the vanity, pulled open the drawe

aper right in fron

arl earring sa

step. "Why... why is that here? Br

why a priceless heirloom magically appeared in the darkest corner of

althy operated. The realization of what her biolog

d it in by accident," Helen

lara stated, crushing the excuse. "And there

. She pressed both hands over her face, tor

She shoved the tissue and th

ifts," Clara said coldly.

ara's rigid back. For the first time, a deep, s

a sports car engine vibrat

She pulled back the edge o

lletproof Maybachs i

g open. Preston practically s

d. A man stepped out. His presence alone se