Mitchel

visceral fury. I snatched a priceless porcelain figurine from its pedestal, its delicate a

It exploded against the marble fireplac

other, a picture of manufactured terror. "

old fury. "Kiara! Stop this insta

You destroyed me! You sold me out to Charlton, didn't you? Fo

d. I merely facilitated an advantageous arrang

my dignity, everything I am, for a bigger bank account! You let them humiliate me,

ntageous when Charlton used me as bait? Was it advantageous when he paraded me around like a pri

r behavior is unacceptable. You're hys

I'm furious! Did you know about Giuliana? Did you know she was his true love?

p to conclusions. Charlton and Giuliana have a history, y

betrayal, and emotional torture 'complicated'?" My eyes burned into his. "You w

, if you calm down, we can discuss a new arrangement. Charlton is wi

g and pretend none of this ever happened?" My eyes landed on a small, intricately carved wooden box on a side table. It was my mother's jew

ad. "Those are family heirlooms

d, lunging for the box. But my fat

ther, let out a dramatic whimper. "Oh, my head... I'm so dizzy..."

"Giuliana! What's wrong? Are you alright?" He rush

ed, leaning into him. "It's just... Kiara's

? My min

rom my slap, his eyes blazing, stormed in. He took in the scene – the sh

rushed to Giuliana's side. "Giul

her with frantic concern. She clung to him, whimpe

pointing a trembling finger at me. "She

to me, cold and hard. "K

oked with disbelief. "She's

outstretched, wanting to grab Giul

ted instantly. He

of the ornamental pond in the living room caught

lash, I plunged int

he water, struggling against the heavy fabric of my dress. My

The water was deeper than it lo

moving. My father was still fussing over Giuliana, who was now clutch

r murmured to Giuliana, his bac

hing unreadable in his eyes before he turned his full attention back to her. "A

ered, "She tried to hurt the baby, Charl

me drown. My own father. The man

y limbs felt heavy, useless. The cold s

cold, but there was a flicker, a tiny spark of something, in h

ce clipped. "You need to

ng, and he was telli

out, reaching for hi

esture, not an act of rescue. "You brought this upon you

water, weak and useless.

little longer, and then you'll be free. Your father will return your mother's things, a

You think I'm still playing your game?" I whispered, th

please. Think about your mother's ashes. Your fat

her's ashes. He knew how to hit me where it hurt. That w

ater. Tears streamed down my face, hot against the cold. "You... you

hilling authority. "Take her to the ancestral hall.

waded into the pond, their cold hands pulling me from the

of emotion. Giuliana, still clinging to C

clothes, I looked back at Charlton. His eyes, for a fle

nough. It would