lm settled over Adela. She couldn't h

ts mingled around the pool. David and Sharon were

oo. She shot Adela a

of the pool. She picked up a glass of lemo

ling a glass of red wine. "Sister, all a

rned to

g shriek, her body lurching sideways as sh

shed in the water, screaming, "He

Every eye fixed o

en. She hadn't e

react. David stormed over to Ade

uld you? She i

's hand flew up. The sound of his palm connecting with h

Her ears rang. But the physical pain was nothin

just struck her in front of a crowd of stra

ready reached Tiffany, li

I was just trying to talk to her... I

ng shoulders. He looked up at Adela. The look in his eyes was not just col

His eyes had already condemned her

over," he said to David, his voice fla

, and walked through the stunned

stile arena, surrounded by whispers and judging

ken, and trampled on, finally just...

d the car door for her in silence. The city light

as a quiet, brooding teenager, hiding from his family. She had given him a piece of her g

there had been a flicker of gentleness on the boy's f

, Adela soaked in the batht

aden was back. He had taken Tiffany home, then gone to a

obe, fresh from the bath. His eyes, bloodshot and wild

r against the wall. His mouth crashed d