erything. Three years ago, she'd even made pastries by hand to win her sister's favor. Cassie had collapsed, foaming at the mouth, poison in

eaumont name. At Cassie's tearful urging, they'd planned to exile Chloe permanently-send her somewhere far from Greenwich, n

innocent," Harrison had said. "How can you be so vicious just to compete for attention?" His voice had trembled with a fury that bordered on h

as you," Carter had added, his words

e always proof enough. The evidence didn't matter. The missing bottle, the inconsistent timeli

iplinary Academy. He'd decided hard labor and harsh discipline would teach her what she refused to learn. She just needs to suffer enoug

vealing the hollow planes of her face. Conrad

gave out. Conrad turned back, eyes flashing with something sharp and danger

cooperate. The sight was pathetic, animalistic. Conrad turned away, refusing to watch. The leather seat was cool beneath her

Chloe Boyd. The command had come the moment the man returned to New York. Retrieve her. Such a terse order, yet it had carried the weight of

first, tossing instructions to the staff. "I have business at the office. Take her

er nose, the pain in her chest sharper than her ruined knees. Expression blank, she climbed out

ward, urgency in every step. Her first words: "My precious daughter. Three years. Do you know ho

as mechanical. "I

er's health was failing. She needed Chloe's medical expertise. After that, she'd walk away and never look back. The

t. The sight wrenched something in her chest. Chloe was her flesh and blood, however terribly she'd erred. She'd been punished enough. Surely, s

ust never be so willful again. Come, le

eded distance. Her eyes were full of wary distrust. They reflected nothing of the

for your future. Is there any mother in this world who doesn't act out of love for

spent three years being tortured. Chloe stood motionless, making no move to bridge t

e her for being distant. Give her more time, won't you?" Cassie's voice was honey and sympathy, her slender arm slipping around Griselda's waist with practic