et. He wiped violently at the tea stain on his trousers

!" she cried, her voice pitching into a panicked

yes sliced into her like razors. "Do

ed down her cheeks. Humiliated and terrified of Graydon,

ng a shaking finger at Caroline's face. "If yo

twisted logic. "So I should have stood there and

ring fireplace. The flames swallowed it instantly. He looke

aid, his words cold and precise. "You introduce a poisonous e

ike a physical blow to the chest. She c

ed out her chest. She looked right at Matild

r mother Lorelei was just a stray! A pathet

rain buzzed. She turned her shocked eyes to Mat

ly and yelled at Tinsley to shut up, but she didn't de

under her. She had zero Ross blood in her veins.

om Caroline's face. A sick sense o

"You're just a defective replica," he said smoothly. "S

own Caroline. But years of fighting ruthless co

, she straightened her shoulders. A cold,

ince we aren't related, I won't feel a shred

d at Caroline like a wild animal, her manic

. Her hand shot out and grabbed a gooey, choc

inst the back of Tinsley's pristine, white Chanel tweed jacket.

stain ruined the hau

aw the stain, she let out a blood-curdling s

er fingers. Her eyes were dead cold. "Str

g angry, a faint glimmer of approval shone

ine. She hadn't broken down. She had fought back with a vicious,

d disgusted him

urned to Matilda, her voice hard

nch. Caroline turned her back on Graydon's