them inside. The vehicle lurched forward, leavi

ront passenger seat, twisting her body around to point a handheld camer

seatbelt. Her hands fumbled slightly with the heavy metal buckle, her musc

cked into the buckle

a lock. He scrambled sideways, pressing his back hard

captured the f

on her lap. The live viewer count was sky

e jumped? She def

ive services on t

roat and read the screen out loud. "Wow, Cecile. User 'MommaBear99' says

ntrum like she used to. She slowly lifted h

ing that the rapid-fire chat on the screen actually paused for three full seconds.

g and pulled out a soft, folded cashmere blanket. She lean

suffocating scent of expensive perfume on it. It just smelled like clean laundr

eached into her folder and pulled out a glossy photograph.

internet's favorite "perfect mom," ba

said, her voice dripping with fake sweetness. "How does it feel to compe

hoto. A bitter, mocking

ice flat and low, "doesn't need a ca

he chat erupted again, this time divided between outrage a

ring horn shatt

hrieked against the asphalt. The mas

she was thrown ag

is small body launched off the leather seat, his forehead rock

threw her upper body across the gap, slamming her right ar

h

impact sent a shockwave of pain up Cecile's shoulder. A sharp gr

ked to a co

ead. He blinked, his amber eyes wide wit

he seat. A dark, angry red welt was alrea

re, unfiltered terror in his mother's eyes-not for herself, but for him

they were okay. She shoved the camera directly at Cec

camera lens away w

ed at the driver, her voice v

stammered, "A-a stray dog ran

embling fingers gently probed the back of his neck, checking his

w scattered comments b

ust block his h

nuinely terr

era. "We're pulling into the LAX VIP drop-off," she announced lou

era flashes erupted like a strobe light. A massive crowd of paparazzi and a

fall in rapid, shallow jerks. His small hands clawed a

atshirt, leaving her in just a thin white t-shirt. She threw the oversi

o her arms, pressing his covered f

bing, Cecile reached out a

era flashes blinded the air. Cecile's eyes hardened into ice. Like