her grandmother's face, Clara R

had aged the elde

and Keira Galloway came back, yet she had no

aid's voice ring out behind her:

ine stiffe

readed most always cam

nd stepsister Keira walked

ine sweetness. "Did you have a nice meeting with Mr. Hayes, sister? E

new Chanel suit she was wearing. Her eyes raked over Cl

ht. A complete waste of our family's resources." She eyed Clara's attire. "Dressed u

y games. She headed straight for the grand staircase

p from the sofa, her heels clicking on th

ter. Dad was worried si

d slowly and met Keira's gaze. He

, each word carefully enunciated. "Do not

ced smile froz

ow sitting bolt upright. "What I wear, and what I d

th anger. "You eat our food, you live under o

what's left over. And the money I've earned doing translation and cleric

, her mouth opening an

ed across the cavernous room like a shard of ice. "I've filed a pet

nned faces before her and

u will address m

ttered the last pretense of their f

disbelief. "Clara! Are you insane? Have you fo

y devoid of emotion. "And I haven't forgotten who t

ke a physical slap,

. Richard Galloway stood there, his face a th

this shouting

umpling as she ran to hide behind her fath

ld and assessing,

was straight, her chin held high. There was no

ackled wit

t an emotional break; it was a legal statement of independence. It

m and clear, easily cutt

g back what belon