face dark with anger. Gracie had

ven tone. "Clear out that room. I don't

turned around and sta

e called withou

's butler, paused for a brief mome

d and looked

ut it was enough to make him ins

"I want every one of Cathy's be

before he could hide it. His di

f wasting time arguing, she walked strai

rough the living room, le

st his cheek and stared at Gra

family for years, yet you still don't know whose orders you're supposed to follow. Or have you forgotte

iately drained

nds? Tha

hand as though touching him had dirtied it. "Did you honestly

y formed on Sebas

ace. Even Richard and Elaine had never suspec

aci

yes. "Is that the pro

f defiance disap

nd his voice became re

cie give a small

up, I don't want to see a single one

ce more before leaving to c

round and conti

e spot. Some looked stunned. Others were frightened.

ever loo

w this was only

im everything the Carter family

ng for Cathy's ro

ace curtains were all taken away. Once they were gone, the room l

way for a few moments befor

set. The staff must have realized the situation had changed becaus

g a word. Then she sat on the edge of the bed

was a

d picked it up withou

n't a SIM card inside. It clearly

aintain the network of people she had c

flirting with wealthy young men online until they became useful connections. With

over the room so suddenly. She hadn't even

le of seconds before enterin

athy's b

unlocked i

The moment she opened Instagram and saw the

n white shirt. Her face looked youthful, and her clear eyes carri

s Gra

n when she had turned eighteen years o

ed enough money to buy the first

he had insisted on taking a picture by the entrance because she believed Gracie would

would steal that photo and use

hrough the account. Nearl

sgust rose i

bringing her along to meet her so-called friends. She deliberately kept every introduction vague and

had truly thought Cathy wanted to help her become part of th

n completel

never been anythin

appearance to keep those

slowly tightened until its edge

tand why everything had

e had looked at her so stran

ied to pull her away whenever she actu

meaningful questions had never been directed

been taking over the life tha

the phone

eared across the

ct name w

de

es settled

ge in the conver

tiful, yo