ere did they come from?" Her face had gone pale, the

urse." At their horrified expressions, her smile sharpened. "I was there for punishment, not a vacation. Beatin

d like bombshells. Three years. Three years of systematic beatings. How had she

s! That institution is under your fiancé's oversight. Who would have the audacity?"

one gave the orders." She did not look at anyon

t took it? You never fought back? Pathetic." The word l

vival. Resistance meant worse." She met his eyes. "Isn't this exactly what you wanted? I'm obedient now

using him of anything, yet guilt crawled under his skin regardless. He softened, prepared

ever have suffered. I don't even belong in this family. I should move to the apartment in the city..." She wept as if she were the victim, tears s

istress! She shouldn't have come-I knew the stress would be too much." He shot

ult. Your wound

utsider at the center of the storm. No. Not an outsider. The villain. Every tear, every worried furrow, every pang of guilt-all

red family, paused on Chloe with something that might have been distaste, then shifted to Eleanor. "Mother." The s

a seat. "Sit." Her vo

's voice cut through with quiet, deliberate precision: "Mr. Beau

me?" Fury coiled beneath the calm, his brows drawing together with barely restrained rage. His hands, restin