a paper towel, gently patted her wet h

walked down the hall to the

ive walk-in closet. She pulled open the bottom drawer of t

y mirror. She opened the kit, took out a tube of burn o

ce was pale, her eyes hollow. She dragged the cott

gel touched the ruined skin. A cold sweat broke out across her forehead, and her stomach

ng a light gauze around her wrist, Kay

ery piece was a gift from Grady. Apology gifts for missing dinners. Ann

rished them. Now, th

er. She opened the jewelry boxes one by one, dumping the heavy necklaces

knob of the be

He didn't knock.

wer and slammed it shut. She grabbed a wooden hairbrush from

his hands shoved deep into his trouser pockets. He loo

be crying. He had

e always used. "Jasmine has always been clumsy. You know how sensit

e set the wooden brush do

und to face him. She looked

uth lifted into a fla

id, her voice soft and sweet. "Why wo

sound came out. The rest of h

trace of the usual underlying sadness or despe

as a blatant dismissal that grated against his ego. His eyes dropped to her right hand. The white gauze wrap

of his pocket and reached tow

l step to the left. She mo

said, her tone light and conversational. She

s twitched. The unsettling feeling in his gut tightened

, a small head poked through

"I'm scared Grandmother is going to yell at

ed back at Jasmine. The habit of protecting his

aid. He turned and wa

ainst the heavy wooden door. She listened

a long, sh

out her phone. She opened the browser an

r eyes landed on a name: Genevieve Athe

information and moved the photo into

the dresses Grady liked and pulled out a high-necke

up to her throat. It covered her collarbones perfect

ection one last time.

et door and walked

able. She saw Kaya and immediately looked at her wra

"It's just a scratch

d her chin, and walked toward the