dy, the damning headlines glo

ore him, her

ely. *Why? Why would you d

erno. She needed him to see the t

onfrontation was

in his chair, his e

. It's a lesson. A les

s gaslighting her again, twisting h

ffany was forced into. Now you underst

you will attend this 'viewing' tonight.

or obedience

nothing to do with Tiffany's auction

cognize Tiffany's mani

this. Too trusting, perhaps. But malic

wall. His cruelty,

uriating, leaving her n

ization settl

eve her. He didn't

her manufactured vulnerabili

descended. An emo

t went o

ars from her cheeks wit

surprised even herself. She

she signed.

would play it. But she w

he "private viewing," she added the

more th

e was a mask. Beneath it, her

mination was a

this, and then

y or a

apparent compliance, wa

, Sarah. Your birthday is next

with an obscene

ture for her birthday, while simultane

tions was a constant reminde

b was filled with

on Marcus's arm, th

From those a

of diner grease, doesn't s

liation was imm

was already there, holding cour

Marcus had gifted to Sarah months

cal weight. The anger simmere

iage, when Marcus had overheard someone make

with a glare, his voice l

I value most. Anyone who dis

was gone. Or perhaps he

the present moment

e room, meant to display the "authent

w images

as conveniently obscured, but whose expensive watch

d in shocked ga

ah. "She did this! That horrible,

lots, perfectly designed to f