wrist. Her smile was flawless, a care

placating, "Ashley didn't mean any harm." She bit h

of feigned sincerity, back to Ashley. Her voice w

nt every word!" she spat, her face flushed with r

at what you're wearing. My mother wouldn't have worn that

mond on her ring finger caught the chandelier's light, flashi

rself between them. Her voice took on a plea

unshed tears. "Elara, I'm so sorry. It's my fa

d in sympathy, their expressions shifting. They now saw a

eone whispered. "To have to d

h. This was not a defense. It was an attack, cloaked in kindne

oked past the sisterly facade, locking onto Ashley a

was quiet,

pology come

second. The polite mask cracked. She hadn't

ncredulous laugh. "Apologi

cking sharply on the marble floor. Her voice was cold, cutting

low the insult, accept the fake peac

protection. Only impatience and a chilling concern for appearances. Her hea

a home. It

served," Elara said, her voice steady.

contradicted by this girl, in front of h

side, her hand on Talia's arm. "Mother,

. She lowered her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. "Sister, do

, but the eyes held

l, lying face. And she said the one

N

iet, but it lan

oment, into a mask of pure venom befo

defiance, finally boiled over. A

ch!" she

unged forward, shoving El

ackward, her arms flailing for balance.

ightly as she saw w

and upon it, a tall,

oint of no return. She was going to crash into the table, bringing the pricel