of the agreement to sever famil

at Leyla was trouble, though the re

had spared him the tr

re? Weren't you desperate to l

g laugh slipp

been on friendly terms, and there was

's gaze with chilling resolve. "Remember this moment, C

a reply, she turne

noticed Eliana watching f

her face upon

have been plainer, Eliana's face carrie

truck like a challenge, and Leyla f

ey mirrored Stella's in

d in Leyla's min

gaze sweep over Eliana. "So, y

knowing smile. "And you're the st

napped, her hand

clamped around her wrist, halting it in mid

hissed. "Let g

manners. Leave now, before I lose m

ed her palm against her pants as th

t now. You're just a carbon copy of the rest of your family. But don't thin

re not. I'm not sure. But I'm sure of one thin

nge at her, but Carl stepped in, blockin

And you'd all better remember-this isn't over. I'll mak

and for now, retreating

Clarke family, she would f

another insult but stopped sho

outed, rushi

d before he could blink, Eliana was t

rl stared i

" Eliana told him, her tone l

said, movi

tella was settled

her hands moving with careful

eneath that, Stella's body was already fragile, weakened from old illnesses that

ambulance when he noticed Eliana leaning ov

crossed his face. "Lia

icked up a few tricks from a village healer. Do yo

voice carrying a note of concern. "I've already calle

put her on oxygen, run a list of tests, and hand he

ed, "Go to the therapy room. See i

rs ago for Louis, whose bad ba

e butler left to look, mu

e therapist had been dismissed,

butler returned with

laying out the silver ne

vements before pressing them into sev

in place, Stella's eyes stayed c

butler tugged Car

n the Murray child least su

the butler felt the burden of keeping a level hea

his eyes flicked toward Eliana, saying, "The you

er's when she was young. And she's wearing the fish-shaped

ural family. Forgive me for saying so, but country people don't exactly have advanced medical trainin

could hurt our mom?"

onsidering the worst possibility. You saw it yours

raight to Eliana's side. "Lia, how

liana, pressing the needle in

Stella needed to b

ve it ten minutes. If she's still out, we're heading to the hosp

ard the butler. "She'll w

a small, uneasy

's words to be so blunt

, among the six sons of Louis and St

er, the wail of an ambulance

lurted out. "Let's get Mrs. M

his mouth when the door slamm

ed toward the s

cutting across his right one stood

who was pressing a long silver needle into Stell

are you hurting my mom? You'l

wung his arm toward Eliana