light flickered on, casting a harsh, unforgiving glare over the living roo

a tangled mess, her makeup smeared, and she clutched a half-empty bottle of whiskey

carefully stepping around the debris. The pa

umsy with drink and rage. Her hand came up, and before Elean

d in the small,

e taste of blood filled her mouth. A h

ed, her voice cracking. "You couldn

he stared at the crazed woman before her, unable to reconcile thi

d them at Eleanor's chest. They fluttered to the floor around her

ed. "The funding is gone! The banks are cal

ne of the documents. Her eyes scanned the page unti

of Cochran

her spine. She finally understood wh

lently. "What did you do to him? Why did you have to offend

gh her. Eleanor's vision swam. With a surge of adren

ing, "I just came from a clinic where

m fell

hly pale face, her gaze dropping to the faint, dark stain that was beginning to see

sted only

ound. "You couldn't even hold onto a bastard child?" she sneered, her words drippin

e stared at her mother, disbelieving. The last fragile thread

y. There were

lked towards her bedroom, shutting the door on her mother's venom