lining a private drive in the Hamptons. From the back seat,

was painfully familiar. It was an almost exact replica of the

her. The screen displayed the property records. The villa had

est showed that one week ago, a climate-controlled crate had been delivered to this address

dding

heels was the only sound as she walked toward the front door, tw

le push, it swung inward on silent

imalist aesthetic, the same color palette, even the same abstract

rom the second floor. A ja

al staircase, her hand gliding ov

ghtly ajar. Through the gap, she saw a scene of such brea

d before a ful

tricate lacework and hundreds of hand-sewn diamonds, hung sli

mile on her face, her hand stroki

composure

crashed against the interio

ise. Seraphina jumped, whirling aro

raking over Seraphina with undisguised contempt. She loo

it was quickly replaced by a mask of defiance. "W

hardwood floor. "That dress," she said, her voice dangerously quiet, "is a one-of-a-kind pi

her toward the open doorway as she tried to use Julian's name as a shield. "J

she was standing inches from Seraphina, her gaze withering. "You're a cheap im

Seraphina's neck. Her carefully constructed composure s

outstretched, intending to pus

ved with lightning speed, stepping

hina, encumbered by the long, heavy t

as she stumbled backward... Her momentum carried her out of

ve attempt to grab her. But her fingers only

and flailing limbs. Her body made a series of sickening thuds agai

commotion, ran into t

ng in pain. The pristine white dress wa

ing down at the scene. There was no pity in

911. With her other hand, she was recording a v

h a venomous hatred. "He'll kill you for

e stopped just in front of Seraphina,

ed, her voice as cold and hard a