a sickeningly sweet smile on her face. In her hands, she held my mothe

e," she said, her voi

ploded into a thousand black shards. Not satisfied, she stomped her stiletto heel directl

For the first time in my life, I slapped

dragged me from my bed and took me to an abandoned warehouse on the

cold metal pipe, the sound of my own bones cracking filled the empty space

scent burning my nostrils, the liquid cold against my skin

ed, his voice a low growl. "She' s the darling of the Sterling

erful, untouchable family in the

sonal therapist, the only person I trusted. He had woven a tiny distress beacon into my hair during one of

oline-soaked hair. I found it. A tiny, hard butt

a voice crackled through a kidnap

eep her alive, but don'

as the voice of Dr. Ethan Sterling. My blood ran cold. The man who promised to save

died, replaced by an abyss of despair. I

f disinfectant. The bright lights

d in a mask of concern. "Chloe, why didn

his face purple with rage, stormed in. He slapped me ha

ou' ve done? Tiffany missed the biggest fashion show

ing my own kidnapping

her eyes filled with fake tears. "Chloe, I

her face a picture of feigned sympathy. "Don' t cry

ression one of pure disgust. "You' re pathetic,

y. I looked at their faces, one by one, and a cold clarity settl

e hoarse but steady. "I will never apolo

e. He raised his hand again. "I' ll

p in a placating gesture. "Mr. Davis

m was like iron. He subtly forced me down, pushing my

his voice a low, commanding whi

into dust. I looked up at the man I had trusted, the man who ha

ed to exist. Tears streamed down my fac