frantic tears. She realized G

wooden legs of her chair scraped against the h

l!" Evelyn screamed,

ng room. Her footsteps pounded against the f

, realized the money tap was turning off, and decided he needed to keep his meal ticke

lammed shut, shaking t

room was

amren e

he plates. He shot up from his chair, his face flushe

ng off the ceiling. "Why would you humiliate her with mo

the table. "Camren, sit

at the empty doorway. "This house is a gilded cage

er hand, signali

d taller than her, his chest heaving with misplaced righteous

said, her tone leavin

of the dining room, headin

scles popping. He stormed after her,

traight to the crystal decanter on the side table. She

esk and slammed the glas

ered. "Calm your ne

He picked up the glass and threw the liquid to the back of his throat. The alco

een. "There's more from that same phone call this morning," Christa said, her vo

g with absolute contempt. "I swear, all I have to do is drop two tear

empty bourbon glass slipped from his

ting the edge of the leather sofa. H

head rapidly. "No, that's... that's

k. She closed the distance bet

stealing the midterm exam. You didn't do it. Evelyn stole it, panicked, and shoved

ed. His eyes darted w

our father for cutting your allowance. Grant never cut it. Evelyn told

er, forcing Camren to loo

rista whispered. "She has been gaslighting y

rain-every time he took the blame, every time Evelyn looked away when he got

r through shattered with a

eather sofa, burying his face in his hands.

to touch him. She stood ov

w," Christa said coldly. "Just use your

d hollowed out, like a ghost. He pushed himself off the sof