s thick with the smell of mon

looking down at the crowd of

e Australian Outback had taught me how to spot predators

arity" gala was my first acquisition as the

he family, had confirmed it jus

unication, forcing me to return t

e my mother, Maria, and m

en them in

e of our business-land acquisition, reso

nger the gi

e crowd, I

and worn, her dress nice

as nowhere

nd man, Rufus, who stood

tel' s most feared en

re," I said, my voice lo

dded and d

louder suit, stepped onto the stage. "And now,

single spotlight hit the cent

od wen

orm was my s

her eyes glassy

ning, sparkling showgirl outfit

. Matthew Scott, Molly' s ex-fiancé, was laughing. Next t

housekeeper, stood beside th

standing with them, avo

w them, looking desperate, h

ing with contempt. "Look at her, Maria! This is

you were so high and mighty, firing them for

ly sound that echoed in

d to the crowd. "In three parts. To teach you a

a mix of shock and

tion off a private weekend with swe

on prize-winning cattle, now started shouting numbers for my s

was shakin

ia. Foreclosed. Your ex-husband here," he gestured to my father, "has disowne

, my mother looked completely broken. I felt a cold, precise rage

ered. "Let me see h

stand the full scope of their audacity be