iece of trash. She stood there for a moment, the humiliati

ay, and the quickest way w

. The crystal chandeliers seemed to mock her with their brilliance. The well-dre

e, fear, and the cold, hard text

e cat dragged in. Did you

, saccharine, and s

of faux concern and triumphant glee. Irva, in a new Chanel suit that probably cost

ace. Judith's text. The wrong room number. The

igned to ruin her, to free Tristan from their e

relief, this rage. It burned away the shame an

w, deliberate pace. A faint, h

et but cutting. "You should really be in Hollywood. It's a s

ression melting into one of wounded innocence. "Kelsey, what are

shoulder. "It's over between us. After last night, you..." He trailed

bitter it almos

nged by our grandfathers. You don't have the authority to declare it 'over'."

ame? You spend the night with another man and now you want to cling to Trista

oice remaining level, which only seemed to infuriate Irva more. "Y

her eyes welling with crocodile tears. "T

d annoyed. "Kelsey, stop it! You're making a scene

ow, felt like nothing. A pinprick. She was alread

o to your grandfather. Go to Mr. Mckay and ask him to dissolve the

n his eyes. He was terrifie

inued her performance, playing the victim, accusing Kelsey of being a shameless harlot.

action. "You crazy bitch, let him g

contract, her symbol of bondage, slipped fro

ker of old habit,

er heel, sharp and cruel, slamm

age?" Irva sneered, grindin

folder wasn't just paper. It was Leo's life. It was

eyes made Irva flinch. The anger was gone

g cold a