uffled Aretha's footsteps as she reached the b

ps, cutting Aretha off and blocki

e no guests or servants in sight, the inno

ng smirk twist

enomous whisper. "You really are pathetic, Ari. A useless replacement

iumph. "And Anders? His heart has always been wi

he twisted jealous

idn't tighten. She felt absolutely

o slap her back. She just looked at Kelli like sh

dead flat. She stepped to the s

. Out of the corner of her eye, she caugh

ategy shift

ew her hands up in the air, flailing wildly as i

hesitation, Kelli th

ahogany stairs, rolling over an

of the estate swung op

lius Hines, Aretha's fath

stairs like a broken doll, while Aretha stood at the top of t

ared. His eyes wen

e foyer and took the

scooping her limp body into his a

red in Anders's eyes mad

s. He didn't ask what happened. He d

a's trench coat and shoved her

floor. She flew backward, her spin

h. Cold sweat instantly broke out across her forehead. Her fingers cu

ho was now pretending to be unconscious. He held Kelli like she

of the family stood over Aretha, looking down a

pat. "Using such vicious tactics against your si

freezing your trust fund immediately. You will get on your knees a

fund echoed in

her gut. She placed her hand flat against the wall and pushed h

olutely no fear. Only the cold, hard resolv

f blood from her chin. She lo

ngs, and spoke loud enough for every s

r voice ringing clear and steady, "I sever al

register on Cornelius's face

ery single cent of my inherita

plunged into a deafeni

sed out in Anders's arms, twitched and o

e had used money to control her for six years. He ne

i. He stared at the woman standing at the top of the st

ir shock. She turned around and wal

b. One last piece of paper to