slow-burning ember, It

th to ask what exactly he meant, but the unreadable, fai

ed up her own clothes, which had b

y allowing herself to breathe. The mirror showed a pale girl with wid

he reminded herself

face, forcing the tremor from

f acquisitions and hedge funds that she didn't understand. He glanced at her once over his shoul

lled it open, her exit as sil

His powerful silhouette against the glittering backdrop of th

y was standing there, arms crosse

ng over Chloe's simple dress. "Did you really think

le. "Maybe not. But at least now, Branden will have to respectfully call me

contorted with rage,

tepped inside, and just as the doors slid shut

oors closed, her

lent and painful. She had won a small battle

ir doing little to clear her head. She r

r dorm. And the thought of

ity or their blame. Especially her grandmot

e needed a bed. Sh

zzed. A text

o talk. It's not

gh, blocked his number,

was from Brenda White, the f

ome tonight. Miss Dorathy got here first. She's

Chloe's stomach. A sto

pressed her foot on the gas. She wou

The main house was lit up, every window glowing

got out of the car, and wa

ly was assembled in the grand livin

family, sat in her high-backed chair, her eyes fix