afening silence. Everyone was st

er rapidly swelling cheek, her fa

creamed before charging at M

ng nobody had lifted a hand against her daughter. She step

d and locked her gaze onto Ashton. He had been stand

pivoted and deftly averted S

few steps to find purchase. Jenifer almost fell face first on the f

r eyes over moth

two who have been pilfering my belongings! That bracelet on your wrist, Jenifer, an

ifer stiffened, the

her hand and turned away, while Stacey fiddled with he

is mother and sister, his e

they could ever need in a lifetime.

n here?" Ashton

ack, afraid that he would see the bracele

said fiercely. "When did

as so thick, you could cu

lry. When I made no offer to give it to you, you simply stole it behind my back. I still have the receipts for al

ressed their lips into thin lines and hung their he

h them any further. She had said her piece,

strides, he was in front of her, blocking her path. Hi

rave oversight on my part, I will admit. In return, I will forgive your actions at the h

omething that even he failed to notice. Deep down, he desperately hoped that

h. To her, he might as wel

his request. He breathed a sigh of relief and kept talking. "See, that temp

ll. Melanie couldn't stomach this rid

ment she had prepared beforehand and threw it at his face

ing loud and clear. "And I no longer want to play th

ton like a bolt of lightning

dulously. "What kind of no

le this peacefully, I'll be more than happy to take the

tantrum, Ashton moved to persuade her, but

reflex and gra

go of

rom his grip, but she was sti

d one of her sleeves even slipped in

voice suddenly called out from t