ning was exactl

age for my

accessory, while Amelia, radiant in a

rpiece sculpture, a twisted abstract form, fo

ced with a flourish

e gasp, the

him, isn't she?" a wom

well if she can throw away mil

re sharp, meant

ce bu

ed to buy

on books I coveted, a vi

hem as surprises, her pleasure

h Julian was the antithes

under the attenti

"Amelia is so generous. Perhaps she could

gleamed w

nd, the lights in th

n, which had been displaying im

lidesho

s of

sophistica

ally altered, hu

e street performer,

mising scenarios, looki

en fell into a stunn

he screen, his fac

around wildly,

trembling finger. "You did this

panicked, his co

shing through the shocked a

n was instantaneo

s a mask of

, her voice cutting thr

not a single rumor of this, leaves this room. Anyone who s

e room, and peopl

r eyes f

obsidian, burning

gerous threat. "If you had anything to do with this, Et

me, my min

e it. I would

umiliate Julian so

d

sed, and a little sca

ur later, stormin

pale, her e

r voice shaking with rage. "He took a handful o

. "What? No! I didn't do a

lunged at me, her hands balled into fists, but her secur

ng in her eyes, tears of fury. "He said he

I pleaded. "Amelia, y

her breath comin

will apologize. You will

ed, becoming da

learn what happens when you

to her secu

there will... ensure he understands the severity

chief' s face

hemism for a secure medical facility on the estate

tros

nce threatened me with stories of corporat

t the raw, unadultera

an. This was about somethin

y, my denials unhea

was uni

body, but the pain of Amelia' s absolute convict

br

thing I didn't do,