na echoed in the Hogan family dining room. It

hed oatmeal in front of her. Her thighs still ached from the nigh

ht, plastic smile. She reached over with a silve

ipping with fake sweetness. "You look pale.

at discussion was. The for

gh, hidden in the pocket of her skirt. She slipped her hand

ion from a blank a

ien

p Aspen's spine. Deron. He w

maining perfectly blank. "Thank you, Mothe

g open, and Julian Sterling walked in. He wore a tailored navy suit

was here to see Sloane, to plan their fu

darted nervously, a flicker of guilt quickly masked by his usual arrogant sm

wiping his mouth with a li

t. "I wanted to catch Sl

slowly lifted her head. She bit the inside of her cheek hard

he walked toward Julian, her steps hesitant, playing

ng just enough to sound pathetic. "Can

teary-eyed girl looking up at him with pure adoration. His ch

e Fitzpatrick marriage today. If Aspen was still publicly clinging to Julian, forcing

uth to intervene, but

k. "Dad, Mom, I know you've been worried about Julian and me. But please, gi

fingers gripping his tightly. Her stomach churn

hand back. He looked at Vance. "I'll handle th

lare, shaking his head slightly. They had to wait

don't take too long. We have

le that stretched across her lips. She had bought the

g to be overwhelmed by emotion. "I...

he dining room, leaving Julian standing

vanished. Her face turned to stone. She wiped her cheek wi

d the door. The heavy click of the de

in her jewelry box was a small, black micro-USB drive. It fel

. High-definition security footage from a hotel room. Ju

had surfaced too late. Afte

e was holding

a dull, beige dress Corinne had picked out for her. The "bridesmaid

opened the encrypted app and

ns at 9 PM. D

later, the s

owle

robbed in her jaw, a steady, rhythmic beat of anticipation. She sat down at the mirr

e the sacrifice. She wo