ugh the taxi window fe

rfume and a stranger's scent. Her stomach churned with a nausea that ha

glowed with dozens of missed calls and frantic te

ne made her

ack! Something ter

oarse whisper. A thousand terrible scenarios played through her

lla, the house her mother had raised her in. It l

led out. The front door flew

ere, a vision in a pristine white dress. Her

nally back! We we

wrinkled in disgust at the smell of alcohol and sex clinging to Chloe. A flash of trium

her away. "Do

st her into t

ard, were seated on the main sofa. They wore expressions

is tone dripping with paternal disappointment.

canned the room, searching fo

ther?" she aske

ugh Chloe's. She began to sob theatrically. "Oh,

"This is the notice from the hospital. Miranda... she had a sudden

were a phy

ack ink of the death certificate swam before h

body swayed, her legs

nomous whisper only Chloe could hear. "Don't blame me, sister. Blame your mother fo

e a bolt of lightning. The perfume. The d

over her grief, obliterating it. Chloe's h

AC

Chloe had put every ounce of her strength into it, lea

ce crumpled and she let out a piercing

feet and pointing a trembling finger at Chloe. "Your

spire against me, you murder my mother, you try to steal

a shrieked. "Jennifer is your sist

I don't recall my mother ever giving b

face wen

wed the truth. "That's enough! Jennifer is my dau

n his fury, the long-held sec

called a father. The years of pretense had fallen

from the kitchen, placing herself between Chloe and

, you're just a servant!" Rich

he pack of wolves standing before her. There were no tears in her