had transformed into chaos. Guests who had moments ago raised glasses of champagne now gathered at the top of the gran

ted, "Estelle!" His voice cracked with desperation, arms outstretched,

thud on her stomach, a sharp cry escaping her lips before it was muffled by the cold marbl

d out feebly, fingertips brushing the floor. "Nathaniel..." she whi

d forward and collapsed to his knees beside her. He gathered

hoarse. "You're okay. You're both

ink I lost it. Nathaniel, it's gone. It's all gone!" She c

thaniel. He turned his he

er

lood dripping from a gash above her temple, Sheryl was barely conscious. Her head lul

n his eyes. "You shame

led. Phones wer

ike some deranged psycho!" he thundered. "I thought you had grown, Sheryl - I thought you were mature! But

fractured mind. She coughed, tasting blood, and her

rrowed his e

ly and growled louder, "

wd gasp

yes widening in horror at the blood on her sister's head. She rushed down the stairs, re

nding between them. "You were really about t

stepped ba

at you believe, Nathaniel?" she said, voice dripping with venom and humiliation. "If I wanted to get rid of

stress?" Another man turned to his wife, "Wait, wasn't Estelle the ex?

and down his face. "Mistress?" he repeated mocking

sped again. P

o me, obsessed with being needed. I saw how useful you could be, how smart you were with your little business acumen. So I used you. I admit it.

ched. She flinched.

k. Broken. "You reall

Their murmurs weren't curious

ustin

o kill a pre

t power does

homewr

a fistful of his suit, her nails leaving streaks. "She... she killed my baby. Natha

bulance. Now!" he barked at s

athed the hotel in color. Uniformed officers pushed throu

but her body went rigid a

any snapped. "She nee

t," one officer replied coldly. "We'll

acted. Her gaze was distant - as if reality had

believing this circus act?! She's manipulating you all! Nathaniel, you especially - are you

er. He was focused on Estelle, no

"They don't know you're my elder sis

rled into a vicious smile. "Don't bother. If this is

ficers

yes widened

dn't flinch.

her wrists and led her out

ng shattered champagne flutes and the echoes o