. The screen was small, b

ked terrified. She was holding the ring in a tissue. She knelt by Au

e through the phone's speak

zipper open a bit.

he foyer was hea

d from his face. He looked at Dominique. It w

led, her voice shrill. "She's go

ston said quietly. "You can't deepfak

ng. "She said she'd fire me! She said she'd

darling, it was just a prank! A sisterly joke! Dominique

. It was a dry,

ay. "It's a felony, Mother. Grand larceny

re marrying. A liar and a criminal. But h

into the suitcase. She didn't fold them. She just s

tep toward her.

said withou

he said. "Let me g

Aurelia said. She zipped

hifting. She let out a small moan,

hispered. "I fe

he floor. It was a gr

e screamed. "Her hear

nct kicking in, reach

past her sister's prone form. She pa

hat means she's conscious and fighting the urge to blink. It's a textbook ca

curity guards stepped aside th

. The sky outside was dark, bruised

r exposed skin. She didn't have a car. The bus

heels of her suitcase crun

d shouting. Then, th

She just kept walking, h

d up beside her, moving at a

urelia," P