ote bag. The city streets blurred into a streak of gray, but her focus was sharp-honed

et so tight it ached, every nerve screa

mposing wrought-iron gates, their sp

rs trembling not with fear, but

e bypassed the grand driveway-too exposed, too easy to spot-and ducked

her thumb hovering over the biometric sca

she pushed the door open, slipping inside as quiet

ngings waited-and

ning room down the hall, the sharp clatter of silverware against china echoed,

tched as she tiptoed past the double doors, her eyes glued

a silver tray of crystal water glasses, rounded

. It crashed to the marble floor, silver clanging, glass shattering into a t

arp as a whip, no trace of patience. "Who dare

ating defiance, and turned slowly. Her heels clicked against the marble, a deliberate, taunting rhyt

ace twisting into a mask of ugly elitism. "Did you realize yo

on's presence was nothing more than a minor inconvenience. "Allison, let's be

the massive diamond engagement ring-stolen from Allison's

sweet, victory oozing from every pore.

, locking onto Baker, her voice

things. Ten min

es jump, their contents sloshing over the rim. "Everything in th

hot and unyielding. "My trust fund was my grandfather's

manicured finger jabbing at Allison's fa

ness too! Finn strayed because you're cold, because you're unlovable!" Katharine spat, taking anot

the gut, a sharp, searing pain of b

once pretended to care-snapped, crumbling to ash. And Katharine wa

o a faux-concerned, persuasive murmur, wea

, and I'll gift you a fully-paid, luxury Manhattan penthouse outright. On top of that, I'll personally guarantee your senio

ion curling in her stomach, s

y status promises to sugarcoat a desperate cover-up, fully aw

ake sweetness. "Take it, Allie. Where else

d empty of any humor. It echoed through the hallw

his smirk fading. Ka

. "You're a coward. You couldn't build a legacy of your own

. He lunged forward, his hand raised high, ready to s

She took a step closer, tilting her ch

lence. "Hit me-right in front of the cameras I installed in this h

s darted to the corner of the ceiling, where the tiny black dome of the camera st

d deliberate as she climbed the grand staircase, l

. She strode to her walk-in closet, shoving aside her designer coats to pre

ad, punching in the six-digit

hands, and beneath it lay the manila envelope with the unredacted tr

nto her tote bag,

efore she unlocked the door, gripping the