doors to the dining room, ignoring the di

ead of the long, formal dining table-in Chloe's chair. She was leisu

tained, a flicker of undisguised triumph c

ng behind Irina's chair to peek

ood before the usurper. Her voic

how you speak?" she sneered, her accent thick. "

air and gave Chloe's leg a hard shove. "You sme

ldn't come up with that on his own. It was a targeted insult, a deliberate mockery of her passion, her p

ion sharp points of pure rage. This was not just about a sto

lailing wrist, her grip like iron, and pull

feet. She lunged across the table like a cornered animal,

with a speed and precision that surpris

slap echoed in th

elt began to form on her fleshy cheek. A trick

n a silent O, the sudden viol

isbelief. Then she let out a howl of rage. "I

wiped her hand, as if she had just touched something foul

ared, pounding a fist on the t

dropping to a menacing whisper, "am Mrs. Carlis

the security office in the gatehouse. "Frank," she said into the speaker, her ton

uine fear finally appeared in Irina's eyes. She made a des

with her own body. The boy struggled against her, but she held fir

ed man with a perpetually grim expression, entered the dining room, fl

t-stained but composed Chloe. He hesitated. Everyone on staff knew how much

she possessed. Her voice cut through the air like glass. "Fran