inds of Ciel's Manhattan apartment, paintin

ing the sensation of her own body. There was no chronic joint pain. There was no he

Phone on the nightstand sh

screen displayed the name Agatha, E

iped to

with a subtle hint of superiority. "Madam requires your presence

coldly, and hung up before A

in a beige, tailored pantsuit. It was understa

vigator the family had sent. She stared out the tinted window as the busy str

rough the massive wrought-iron gates o

n rugs. They entered Eleonora's sunroom. The room was blindingl

the stems of white hydrangeas with silver shears. S

tone making it sound like she was discussing a pest control s

ly what she wanted. But she kept her face completely blank. She lowe

l wasn't crying or begging. She waved her hand dismissively,

om. She navigated the long, winding corridor lined

om his mother's wing, and his footsteps stopped abruptly. The smug, confident look on his face instantly morphed into a dark scowl. He deliberately picked up his

r pockets and looked down at her. A

nning here first thing in the morning to beg my mother to

s that used to look at him with pathetic, desperate a

el stated, her voice flat and factua

idly. The mocking sneer cr

space. "Stop acting, Ciel. This little PR strategy of y

logne hit Ciel's nose. Her stomach imme

creating distance between them. Her face cont

n't fake. It was visceral. A sudden, irra

out, aiming to grab her chin and force her to look at h

ead to the side. At the exact same moment, she ra

ac

ting skin echoed loudly dow

froze for a

was now stinging and turning red from the force of the impact. She