the Gates family estate on Long Island's Gold Coast. The driver muttere

r hair across her face. She stared up at the towering stone walls, her

g in an immaculate tailcoat, flanked by two silent maids. His eyes dragged over Cari

ritish accent was flawless and coated in ice.

rawling, perfectly manicured lawns that rivaled Versailles, the sheer, oppr

she was expected to keep up without complaint. She followed him down a long corridor lined with oil portraits of Gates ancestors. Their painted eyes seeme

rsery door. Before she could push the heavy wood open, a woma

A woman in a custom silk dress sat at the ed

. Her face was striking, perfectly conto

walked to the door. She stepped out into the hallway and pulled the h

glossy lips. She extended a hand, the massive diamond engagement rin

in pierced her chest, but she kept her ha

She stepped closer, her voice dropping to a pitying whisper. "Take the mon

so useless, Guilford wouldn't have had

erfume suffocatingly sweet. "You bottom-feeding tr

he hall. Guilford appeared, wearing a dark, custom-tai

s welled with tears. She rushed to Guilford, wrapping her arm

ogene and slammed into Carissa. "You will follow th

le. Her heart felt like it was being squeezed by a giant fist

e nursery door open. "Go look at the bo

ogene's victorious smirk, walked into the

er his pale face. Carissa's tough exterior crumbled.

freely now, soaking into the pristine white bedsheets. "I'

hanical hiss of the ventilator. Every rise and

he muffled sounds of Imogene and Guilford. Imogene w

oxic needles driving into Carissa's ears. It was a b

. Finally, a sharp knock from Al

eep, and she stumbled, gripping the ed

d the door and stepped back into the empty, luxurious hallway