gnawing hunger. She was curled on the floor, a thin, dusty sheet pulled over her

nt straight to voicemail. His social media was silent. He had been completely and totally erased

Eleanor peered in, her face a web of worried lines. In her hands,

d," she whispered

ndness, made Chloe's throat tighten. "Thank y

rvously toward the door. "They're downstairs. Your grandmother... she's been on

spine. She knew her family. Their

oed up the stairwell. "Chloe! Get down

on't anger them." She took the empty tray and scu

led clothes. It was a futile gesture, like polishing armor full of holes, but it was all she could

She was the matriarch of the family, a woman whose disapproval was a tangible force in t

d and brittle, without any preamble. "You have ruined a valu

ried to explain.

off, her eyes flashing with anger. "You will ma

photograph from the side table and slid

greasy hair, a fleshy face, and small, predatory eyes that seemed to be und

e sweetness. "He's the chief administrator at the city hospital. A

t in the Miller Corporation would solve the financial difficulties we've been facing.

They were selling her. She was a commodity, a piece of pr

ere contaminated. "I won't do it," she said, her voi

to stone. "You will

N

re a curse on this family! You were born under a bad sign. You killed your pare

of a physical blow. Her parents had died in a car crash when she was eight. Agnes had

ome use," Vivian chimed in, her voic

ncerned face. "Chloe, please. They're

unt's vicious glee, her cousin's false sympathy. Something inside he

h fear, but with a sudden, blazing rage. She me

Not. Mar

shard of ice,

silence. No one in this family h

eked, rising from her chair. "Take her back to the attic! Lock the door. No food

gnes's orders were carried out. Chloe didn't strugg

eyes were not filled with despair. They were bright with the fire of rebellio