tairs. Her heels struck the gra

ressed her finger hard ag

gh the thick wooden door. A fe

n Cassie's scarred face. The girl gasped loudly, stu

ked straight past the terrif

g, muting her footsteps. She turned her head

porcelain teacup. A thin woman with severe cheekbones and careful

there in a custom designer dress, looking entirely unbroken, her eyes

atured, and wearing a silk robe that probably cost more than most people's monthly rent. She st

orcing a sickeningly sweet sm

een cooed, walking forwa

and turned her shoulder, s

r. Her smile faltered. She masked

ked, her voice dripping with venomous hop

t, cold laugh. "Disap

ther armchair. She crossed her legs, posture relaxed bu

smile vanished.

assie stated. Flat, hard,

retched thick

room, stopping right in front of Cassie,

get a dime!" Kailee screa

e's trembling finger. Her

, Kailee. It just makes you loo

ire body sho

eyes filling with fake tears. "Cassie, how can you do th

rned. She unclasped

nd tossed them onto the glass coffee table.

y embezzling from my biologica

The blood drained from her face, l

She tore the papers again and again, throwing the shredded piece

watching like she was observ

y lawyers," Cassie said, her voice cutt

he collapsed heavily onto t

t. A thick-set man with a flushed face and thinning gray hair, he radiat

paper and Kathleen's pale face, a

ie, heavy footsteps sh

k to the asylum!" Josephus roar

armrests and pushed

yes. The raw, unfiltered hatred in her gaze was

hesitate and immediate

eal our money! She threa

hus's eyes vanished, re

arred cheek. "You are a disgrace to this

e's ears, but her heart sta

I will see you in federal court,

dangerous shade of purple

sue, watching the chaos unfold. Cassie caught the calcula

ed, stepping closer. "He'll throw you out the secon

. She reached into her bag, pull

reen. Her eyes widened in panic.

lunged

tly coiled. She dropped

gagement ring on her finger caught the light. She swung h

left hand

the slap dead in mid-air. Kailee's shoulder jerked forwar

ed her righ

utal force. Her palm conn

rack of the slap echoe

heels twisted under her weight. She

ng red cheek. A high-pitched, agon