efore the mirror, her skin scrubbed raw and pink. She had been in there

el around herself and s

n was

long, black velvet box. When he saw her, his fa

sorry about earlier. I was stresse

ed away until her hips hit the v

lay a diamond necklace, a river of ice that must have cost half a mi

n't look like jewelry. They looked lik

she said, her voice shaki

nd was like a pistol hammer cocking. "You're

k in his eyes changed. It became heavy, dark. He watched her with a predatory calm. She was slipping away, he r

taking a step closer, "we shoul

d the towel t

na. You have duties.

a heavy silver hairbrush f

e you going to do with t

ing it until she dropped the brush.

ecting with his shin. Julian gr

ac

o snap her head to the side. Her lip split agains

d at his hand, then at

hissed. "We have a gala in two

annoyed rather than remorseful. "

topped. He turned back, a cru

t week. The Family Trust stipulates that the full inheritance is only released upon the bir

alke

e bed, staring

ba

im? A child to lock her into this hell forever

ve

partment in her makeup bag. Inside was a bottle of Vitamin C gummies. But

one. Then anothe

he mirror. Her lip was swe

e applied a layer of high-coverage theatrical foundation, dabbed it wit

pstick-Russian Red. She

gone. In the mirror stood Mrs. Julia