olve h

pped my designer heels. They cos

d the

my voice even. "The

rprised, then

ing in the sudden quiet. "There's Tiffany in the Rose Cottage, she likes white wine. And Chloe in t

gasped. Som

ed a dark red. His

tch," he hissed, s

angerous. "Fine. But you leave with nothing. Strip.

stunned into a

ak me, to humili

im, at the ha

wned me. My body, m

m

ched for the zipper at the

the zipper was lo

started t

icker of shock, maybe even fear

could fall fur

jacket and threw it ove

at the guests. "All o

eager to escape th

t Julian and me

ite food, the glittering decorati

e?" Julian grabbed my ar

you can jus

me toward

hat top-tier facility, the best doctors. W

d me int

Living comfortably, is

n my face. "You walk out that doo

I felt a pang of guilt for m

eak my will, using

lutched in my hand und

out. An un

el

"Is this Ava Morg

this i

dent. A car accident. She was driving. It's... it's very serio

od ran

moth

phone. "What is this

or a moment,

" he said with a sneer. "

," I said, standing

going

cked t

lease. My

to stay," he said, his eyes like ic

this time, and dragged me out

the wine

ir thick with the smell of

oices, Ava," he said

slammed shut. T

ps fade away, then

ertain themselves whil

I beat on the door

lence a

cold cellar. Racks of wi

to g

e of Cabernet, one of J

inst the stone w

e shard of glass,

looking for a weak s

ands bleeding, the

old wood splintered. I

way. I could see

weakened spot.

e. The door

y hand wrapped in a bloody

use, out onto the long driv

he highway was

pproached. A

over. The

s Hol

waiting.

blood, my

God, what

ut. "Hospital. I need t

nto his car, h

toward

handkerchie

sing a card into my good hand. "Call me

e hospital. I

you,

l of a deep concern I h

n in

me. His fac

ut your mother, B

eed to fini

a was