cial aid, and scrape by with part-time jobs... and you say you

ering the torn pieces of

hed in her mind, making her f

d the wardrobe. "The

ors. Inside were rows of carefully arranged clothes. Exa

dread washe

as just another of Vincen

te-fresh-faced, curvy college girl

t dress she could fin

, as long as it

a delicate set of black fabrics around

small pieces of bla

eld them

set of

oded her, and she grabbed h

ld be no

t the Stewart Mansion, Vin

ving room, quietly wi

Vincent. "What are those

inct red marks, defin

night. There was no doubt ab

alked

r. "Do you have an idea which wo

chool last night," Iris r

e did that dress come from? What happen

andbag tightly, he

bought all h

s selected dresses that clung to her body, cl

aking at last. "I threw up on her last nigh

ht on. "The dress

o Vincent. "So where

is eyes, offerin

ite shirt only made the red mar

sniffed

u are seeing Elianna now. It's high

obbed eve

is. "Take Elianna ups

Elianna to

Iris's hands. "Tell me the truth, Ir

er head. "I

tly as something clic

"Vincent gave him a month off,

e seen something. I'll make him talk.

facade, she was poss

eally spent the night with, she mi

e, her eyes narrowing as she reached for

ying to shield her chest as sh

ch of her. The marks were now even more prominent, d

t?" Elianna's voice grew sha

ay, her head s

, Elianna could feel h

o blood connection bet

t's in there?" She lunged toward it. Ir

ed, the torn dr

Vincent had claimed Iris left for school afte

ght?" Elianna demanded aga

raveled on the floor, and a small

tly understood

ing her staggering back into the wall, a thin str

ring Iris as her hand rose for another blow-when a card

face shifting from anger to satisfacti

ren. Only a naive college boy would

alth and power, would only offer

" Elianna said sweetly, wiping the blood from Iris's lips with a t

ook her

ag and handed it to Iris. "This is a

d it away, unwilling to

lips. "Bryanna says you're the most obedient. From now on, watch Vincent for m

nette in her hands

her by the hand and

na's eyes and smiled with relief. "Iris always knows

a, lazily glanced at Iris. "

d in with a bright smile. "I gave her s

away, a sneer twisting h

sighed i

The disdain in Vincent's

you can leave," Vi

froze in

to Vincent yet. It would be improper for you to stay the night. Once

flushed with

and. "Come on, let

maturing. She's beautiful. Any man would be dra

ed. "Is someon

"If it's just a suitor, then fine.

face. "Iris always listens to me. I would

more, having m

he could keep an eye on Iris at

is such a lovely girl. No wond

tly. "And how do you

rren mentioned seeing Vincent and Iris talking at the

roze on Bry

adn't even crossed paths at the funeral. Her ex

could you