her a natural advantage. She looked down at Seraphina, who was c

steadily louder, slicing throug

n her supposed distress, she clutch at the bodice of the wedding d

rd. The sound of her heel striking the m

ce low but carrying an unnerving

was a performance Evelyn had seen many times before. "You're trying

ul smile. "Save the victim act for J

but a sharp, warning glance from one of E

pity to malice. "Even if you get the dress back, you'll never ge

on't want it back to wear it," she said softly. "I'm taking it back to bu

physical slap. Her face twisted

it was a pair of gleaming, stainless steel su

l felt satisfying in her hand. She started to

mbled backward, pushing herself across the floor wit

grabbed a handful of the dress's intri

n

through the delicate fabric was s

ssors away. The two security guards moved in swiftly, each taking one of h

the priceless gown, stripping it away from Seraphina's body piece by piece. The

d gown came free. It lay in a heap o

silk slip, shivering in the cool, air-condi

scissors onto the floor, where t

en, and scribbled out a figure. She tore the check from the

d, her voice dripping with contempt.

final, stinging insult. She was trembling wi

shattered the quiet. A black Aston Martin

toward the house, his face a mask of pure fury. Scar

eeping glance: Seraphina, half-naked and crying on the floor; the shredded re

chest. He charged at Evelyn, h

n front of her, their movements fluid and practiced. They dr

f them commanded, his v

er husband's furious gaze. She looked at him not with fear, but w