r bedroom. The bright morning sunlight strea

the two-hundredth handwritten thank-you note to Sinclair charity do

he desk. She watches it roll and leave a dark,

ly at the silk-covered wall. The feeling of absolu

enters silently. She carries a silver tray with a

n the ink stain on the desk, but she says not

thaw the cold dread sitting in her stomach. "H

e leans in close, lowering her v

veals. "It was heavily exaggerated for Julia

would Cecily go to such lengths to frame

completely alone. She drops a massive piece of

hen it hits her. Kayleigh is the young, beautiful con

cy has deeply unsettled Cecily. It threatens

ate a massive distraction. Cecily needed to solidify Julian's prote

realizes she is just collateral damage in a

t further, a sharp, authoritative kn

rch, Carmen Conway-Sinclair, demands y

acup from Anissa. She smooths down the wrinkles

spers frantically. "Just nod and accep

h Navajo pride. She refuses to cower bef

ned corridors. The silence of the estate feels hea

Carmen's study. The dark wood is carved w

massive desk, bathed in the cold light of a cl

She intentionally makes Anissa stand in the

men finally sets her pen down. She fixes An

cal optics," Carmen's voice i

on her," Aniss

you poisoned the food or not. I only care that this

ride. "You will go to Cecily's wing. You wil

. Her innate sense of justice screams at her to ref

ts. Her lips curl into

tribal funding being cut by noon," Carmen