Sterling household, she gave me a small, inex

sture, I gave her a Tiffany brac

to open a box of macarons

was a gift from Bella's mother, her only

fled, waiting for her to explain

Avelia didn't steal it! I gave it to her! Miss Avelia is very good t

light of melodrama. The sight made the three men's eyes redde

ounded

right to force someone to give you their mo

value is far greater than some ten-thousand-dollar bracelet! Give

led. You only care about your own amusem

must be a misunderstanding, so

keychain out to Bella. As she re

eaking off. She bit her lip, then screamed at me, "If you'd rat

rned icy. "Apologize to Bella. Right now. Or don't b

shness, confessed to Ethan that I li

as leverage, forcing me

scared to risk losing

my eyes stinging

et a precedent. Fo

'd react as if seeing a predator – either d

done nothing. Ab

you're so worried about me 'bullying' Bella, then perha

c remark, drippin

reatening me? What are you

we gave Bella early access to the Starbright Arts Center? You

funded, intended as a surprise birthday gift for me. My birthday was next w

t center, it was just sitting there. Ethan thought it would be a nice gestur

or since I was a teenager, a place meant to foster young, undiscovere

ken Bella th

t the Starbright Arts Center was meant for me. It was m

lding. Bella has genuine artistic talent. Giving her a platform, ev

ehind Ethan, dabbing at her eyes. "Ethan just wanted to encourage me

My involvement was merely o

ing from pity to contempt. As if I were a spoiled chil

ab of pain. Not like a needle, no. More li