ILA

la. I paid the driver and stared at the house

gelio, married my stepmother, Paula Hayes,

door, hoping to avoid everyo

heard the voices of Paula and

avy drapes, peering

surely, while Rita paced

if that little bitch actually got away?" Rit

any man," Paula said, her voice cold and smug. "It's a shame w

cold. They

uth to stifle a scream, my

comes back and makes a sce

ty has no right to make a scene," Paula scoffed. "B

Rita stopped p

n," Paula said

is violent temper and messy personal life. He'd bee

my entire body. They wanted to

d too. "He's almost forty! And

he Hayes Group," Paula said slowly. "Your father's company is about to go under. This is the o

d blood, was ready to sell me like a piece

ld spun, and I had to lean against

ck her out of this house for good," Paula continued, laying out her venomous plan.

he only thing she left me. T

so hard I t

e. Confronting them now wo

ay calm. I

pproaching the door. My h

away silently and slipped

till complaining. "What if M

contempt. "Even if she's damaged goods that's alrea

oisoned knife, twi

ne in the dark closet, trembling, as

only home was a cage waiting to devour