s narrowing as she fixed Valerie with a pointed stare. "Valerie, why are yo

iberate challenge. "I can do it myself, but Paulina made my fi

ll into a heavy, s

e perfect, quiet daughter-had become shar

he one person she had always revered

alerie

irl who clung to family ti

edience had been caref

t Eunice had donated bone marrow to

urrent inhabitant-was n

this body had neve

abrication. Eunice had never

nal Valerie had been sick and comato

earching for kin, had matc

ruly cared; she had merely sent th

expected Valerie to argue back so bluntly and paint Paulina as a shameless woman sed

s. Last night, you disappeared from the hotel, and I searched for you all night, catching a cold

re turning to Kayden with a look of calculated grievance. "Kayden,

last night? How could you stay out all night? As my fiancee

king of decorum, do you think it's right to flirt with my sister right under my nose?

r Kayden's face, da

man. And when you came home, you insulted Paulina and humiliated Kayden. If I had known y

you see Kayden and Paulina flirting with each other? Or have you grown so a

e. "Shut up! What nonsense! How could I give birth to someone like you? Paulina is far

oice carrying authority and exasperation. "Staying out all night once is no crime, but slandering Paulina

ent was har

riginal Valerie had first been brought back,

, nearly killing her as she had just

riumph. So what if Valerie had a sharp

rhaps, she could finally drive

ie's hand. "Valerie, don't be angry. Mom and Kayden only

ngers pressing into Valerie's skin

s reputation is everything-you can't let your personal whims tarnish the Todd family's name,

hand free, her star

ot out, connecting with her face in a crisp, und

ing with accusation and rage. "I didn't stay out because I wanted to-yo