n Mccr

voice so low and tight wit

e. She held up the poodle, wiggling its little body. "Isn't Fifi adorable? I thought the

ave of white-hot rage through me. I took a step forward, my han

ted, stroking the dog's fur. "Jackson gave

on't give him a reason. I unclasped the diamond bracelet on my wrist, a seven-carat monstrosity Jackson had given m

cast-offs. I want this." She deliberately dangled the dog ju

abbing for the dog, for my locket. Kaila shrieked and scrambled back, pulling the

ned in genuine panic as her body tilted backward, her arms flailing. She tumbled

teps pounding up the stairs. Jackso

time to see Kaila's form disappe

rd, his arms outstretched, and caught Kaila just as she was about to plummet to the ston

anded, his voice thick with panic as his ha

edge, my heart hammering

hest, her body wracked with theatrical sobs. "Jackson! O

dn't give you back the necklace! I didn't know you hated me that much! Please, don't be mad at me. It was an acci

the sheer audacity of her lies.

y an arctic coldness that froze my blood. "You gave her the necklace," he said

oice cracking. "It was my grandmother's! Y

saw a flicker of something in his eyes-guilt? memory?

ion. "Kaila is alive. She likes it, you should have given it to

dmother's locket, and he had still ripped it from my neck and given it to his

" I repeated, my vo

d your promise to be obedient. You have hurt Kaila. This time, a simple

ou will go downstairs. You will kneel at the front entrance and polish the sho

me to kneel? You want to humil

on," he snarled, taking a step closer. "Or would you pr

t, flooded my mind. A shudder of pure terror ran through me. My

voice hoarse. "Don't

in a distant anchor in a sea of despair. I wou

rags was placed beside me. The few remaining party guests, along with the househo

me. I worked mechanically, my hands moving without conscious thought, the smell of wax and leather filling my senses. Each buff of the cloth

d up, into a face contorted with malicious glee. Gretchen Cross. Her family were rivals of the Walters, and she had

om. "Look what we have here. The high and mighty Mrs. Walte

tion slithered

e had my father's company blacklisted for a month bec

it happened. She lifted her foot, the razor-shar

to a grotesque mask of triumph, "it seems y

heel down with

erced the back of my hand, pinning it to the cold marble floor

sound, and ground her heel

sperate, searching. I saw him. Jackson was standing on the se

nt, I thought I saw him lean forward, as if to intervene. A tiny, pathetic f

k. Jackson's movement paused. He looked down at her, and when he looked b

ears, I heard his voice drift

time she learned

of absolute despair. He wasn't just allowing it. He was sanctioni

that ripped through my soul. It was the final betrayal, the l

nd darkness. The last thing I saw was Kaila

rything w