RY

he cascade of merciless, mocking comments. The fire in my che

w does it feel, Avery?" she purred, leaning in. "This is what you get for tryi

ily's "generosity," for Hannah's sake, I had retreated a

to retreat. I was backed

eyes. There was no anger on my face. No tears. Instead, I

her. "What are you smiling about?"

t of her hand. My movement was so fast, so de

stagram and opened

ed quickly, finding exactly what I knew was there: the explic

for the phone like a madwoman. "Avery Hayes

quiet, cutting through the air like a scalpel. "What do you think would happen if I sent these photos to

r eyes wide with sheer p

have absolutely nothing to lose. But you... you're the precious, flawless daughter of the Pierc

lies. "You can't afford a scandal like this. If the Knights see these photos, do you think they'll

sickly gray. She trembled. She never imagined the q

ed the scene unfold, a flicker of

for your nanny's medical bills!" Sienna thre

face, looking directly into her terrified eyes. "So right now, you are goin

ght crack. Reluctantly, with trembling fingers, sh

ground. "T

ated, and squeezed three words t

ng my head. "I

led into fists. She raised her voice, the words dripping wit

ide eyes, I deleted the explicit photos from her

th of relief. She shot me a look of pure, unadulterated hatred, spun a

ph, but with a bone-deep wearine

astic chair, feeling like I

a paper cup of warm water in front of me. "Good for

grateful, ex

ifying situation hadn't changed

on the wall. It was

out, turning to cold ash. The mone

closed my eyes, ready to

hird time, the heav

measured footsteps ech

y eyes and

ouetted against the brig

h an undeniable, overwhelming presence. Broad shoulders, a lean, muscular waist, and an aur

to the light, my breat

e face with piercing, deep-set eyes that loo

y eye in the room, including Dolo

bly low, rich, and magnetic, sending

aze locking onto mine with an in