eliers cast a warm, golden glow over the hundreds of guests. Waiters glided through the crowd. The a

smiling graciously as senators and tech billionaires showered

the elegant string quart

ape. Thud

und coming from the grand spiral st

s. The polite smiles froze on their faces. One woman let ou

ed. The string quartet faltered and stopped playi

y stood on

emaciated frame. She wore no makeup. Her pale, sunken cheeks and dark, hollow eyes made her look li

r. She dragged her ruined right

stricken appearance and the sea of million-

s the ballroom like a

id a beggar get

e daughter who went to prison f

alking to a hedge fund manager. He h

completely from his face. His brain short-circuited. His hand jerked, spilling half his glass of

ast a group of startled guests, his heavy

fingers digging brutally into her skin. He tried to yank her behind

oice trembling with fury. "Are you insane? You come o

She violently ripped h

she spoke, she didn't yell, but her voice, though still carrying that harsh, raspy ed

the only piece of clothing hanging in my closet.

om. The socialites exchanged wide-eyed, scandalous looks. The Dudley family, kn

New York's elite burning into his back. He had to kill this narrative immedia

s. He pointed a shaking finger at her face. "You have an eighteen-m

making sure the cr

nos and your degenerate friends! Now you purposely dress in r

shifted. The guests' expression

lder woman whispered loudly. "No won

s. Her heart rate did not elevate. Her hands did not shake. She

Brecken's furious face. The corner of her

ll. "Brother, since you are so absolutely certain of my spending habits... why don't

was absolutely certain of his facts. His f

chest puffing out. "I want everyone here to

f wealth manager. To ensure maximum humiliation for Abbey, he walked over to the DJ booth, snatched th

g.

ceilings. The entire ballroom held

ed Brecken wrap the noose around his o