feeling of the steering wheel against her chest a phantom pressure. The

es fle

er. The phantom pain in her chest was so real she clutched at it, her fingers

sn't i

nd gold. The vast windows showcased a panoramic view of the Manhattan skyl

, champagne flutes in hand. And there, in the center of the room, was her

aring a p

red. Manicured. No blood. No broken glass. A wave of vertig

real. It c

she s

cake on a silver trolley. She wore a gentle, beatific smile, th

ry reme

The party.

fth birthday part

l impact. The cake. That beautiful, elaborate

of crushed m

y allergic to

ic rush to the hospital, the terrifying hours in the ER... Bennett had blamed her for not watching him closely e

ll screaming in her veins. The two realities, past and present, collided in

ud smile on his face as he helped her light the five small candles. He wa

o

a silent scre

shed through it, her entire being focused on one goal. She moved th

up the silve

on

lunged forward, her hand clamping over Celine's, snatching t

ilent. The pian

Avery said, her voice shaking

rank back, a perfect picture of wounded innocence.

She stood nearby, her face a mask of disapproval, her lips pursed into a thin, judg

g into her skin. His eyes were chips of ice. "What the h

fending h

a low, dangerous calm. She looked directly at Benne

"I'm so sorry, everyone," she whispered to the assembled gu

he villain, the hysterical, jealous wife. She felt thei

was looking at her with pure disgust. The love she on

he fina

It was Leo. He was hiding behind his father

s little voice piercing the silence

warmth in her chest turned to ash. The desperate, pleading woman who had di

clattered onto the silver pl

st had taught her to use during Bennett's c

d of all emotion. She stepped bac

on. To prove her wrong, to reassert his authority, he took the kni

mp," he said, hol

ficent antique grandfather clock from the Glenn family estate. It had been her wedding gift to Benne

s house, this family, this life-it was a

ve her mother-in-law a slow, deliberate smile. It was a smile that didn't reach her eyes

her purse. She knew the hospital w

n't. Not here

ng for the poisoned cake. On her husband's blind a

walked out of the living room and down the lo

g to end thi