. Her body trembled, her mind clouded in a haze. The weight

slow, deliberate steps. Suzanne's body instinctively recoiled, but there was nowhere t

ce was low, menacing. "You've forgotten

o speak, to fight back

gers gripping the fabric of her dress

r voice cracked,

dn't

with a sharp snap. Leather me

ded across

ed, her brea

hen another. Each strike

wallowing the cries of p

d her thoughts. How many

lentless wave of fire tearing through her body. Her

eminders of his cruelty. Her body was no l

y, he

. Her body was limp, drain

r her, his gaze fi

, he turned an

r click

wallowed

n't. The pain anchored her to

k against her aching body. She hadn't slept. How could she?

n. Her body forced her into

ce didn

shattered

or flu

p, Suz

sharp, cutting thro

s eyes s

lammed agai

, lips curled in disgust. "What are you doi

t, a sharp gasp escaping as t

muttered. "You couldn't even bear a child,

e's he

't ready

ready to fa

rice did

ng to get up,"

scoffed. "That's

ng past the agony as she swung h

o be of any use to this family,

n her heel a

slammed b

exhaled

to recover. No m

ad to

pretend s

the mirror stopped

oodshot eyes.

back, the welts benea

t. She had to go downstairs. She had

bled as she fi

tter if she

d to s

-

dy steps as she ent

of dishes was

head of the table, e

late before her with

didn't

opped to Su

creased

are

e stif

n the faint, still-visible

the urge to pul

ight," she said, voice

?" She reached out, grabb

ne fl

er. "So this is how you present yoursel

to Suzanne's face, e

eleasing her grip. "And we're in the middle of a house of

s heart

m. To tell Beatrice

stayed

ething resembling pity. It was

fe last night," Beatrice continu

re a blade,

lenched h

rs." Beatrice's voice dripped with disdain. "I won't have

n burned in Su

ed to fi

tell Beatrice

e knew

"If you focused more on your duties, perhaps you wouldn't have to hi

swallo

nds tr

r fork down wit

oice devoid of emotion. "But yo

braced

night." Beatrice's tone was

s stomac

d by people, forced to smile,

sure she

had no

. "Get yourself dressed.

e hesi

use. To beg for o

e knew

her," she

o leave, her

followed her, col

picture of comp

r fists as she step