rs of the crowd turned into a loud, buzzing roar of judg

ace in dark streaks. She shook he

ck and locked her eyes on Julio. She bit down hard on her

ng in Amanda's hand, then down at Seraphina's

tors. He threw his shoulder into the chest of t

ds off her,"

to the Mathews family was physica

round Seraphina's shaking shoulders and pulled her flush against

und the other woman. A block of solid ice fo

d her free hand hard against her stomach to stop the cramping

Amanda. The look in his eyes w

ed a finger directly at Amanda's face. "You

went dead s

at the heavy emerald in her hand

aphina is brilliant at work. You are nothing but a cold, paranoid shrew. You brou

s who had mocked Seraphina earlier were

ng up higher. "This is physical proof! I found i

psychotic break, Amanda. You have been acting crazy for months. Yo

t a loud, pathetic sob. Her fingers clutched the fabri

llie leaned into

soft and full of pity. "Do not use grandmot

The whispers grew louder, filled with word

sical weight of the stares pressed down on her shoulders.

asted fresh blood. The sharp pain forced her brain

irectly into

ty for her?" Amanda asked. Her voice was a raspy w

d coldly. "Apologize to Seraphina right

t hung in

hands clamped down on Amanda's wrist. Meredith dug her nails into Am

Amanda's ear. "You are destroying this

face. She looked at the empty space

pped. It did not hurt anymore. The ice in her

She looked at Julio. She looked at

twitched. She smiled. It was a

he silence, "tell me, Billie. Does the earring you claim to have lost have my grandmother's initials, 'A

face. She opened her mouth, but no sound came out. The crowd shi

o arrogant to understand the trap. He still thought he had

s at the back of the

e was panting heavily. In her hands, she hel

" Rosa