's cold, indifferent face. She wanted to ask him why. Why was h

He had Linda now. He didn't need a troublesome niece wh

egs unsteady. As she stepped out of the hosp

e trying to sabotage Mr. Peterso

nally cause Miss

on the floor of her bedroom t

off in her face, blinding her. Microphones were shoved in

er from this. He would wrap his arm around her, his body a s

ne who had thrown

mbling with the keys. As she drove away, she caught a glimpse of her face in the

had described. A small, almost invisible patch of oil was on the hardwood floor right nex

solidify her position as the victim, to p

He was in his study, on the phone. When

Sarah?" he asked,

r voice shaking. "The oil on

ent, she thought she saw a flicker of doubt in his eye

d dangerous. "You were the only one who didn't wan

do that! I wou

he marriage proposal from the will. Wasn't that a move to make Linda fee

action, her every attempt to do the right thing, into

nally breaking free. "I did it so you and Lin

kes me happy? My life is a mess because of you. Linda is in the ho

to a harsh whisper. "You are a destructi

she had loved, the man who had raised her, and saw a stranger. A

she choked out, the words ta

arah. I know you. You're obsess

lent death, flashing before her eyes. That naive girl was dead. She

ing a sliver of strength. "Tha

grabbed her chin, forcing her to look at him. "You think you can just

ot love, but a raw, possessive anger. He cou

have my own life to live. A l

't you dare think you can get rid of the things that tie you to me." He glanced aro

hes in her room. The remnants of her p

r eyes and misinterpreted it. A s

let go. You're s

flat. "And don't ever mention loving

will stay here. You will behave. And you will no

ut. In her room, she found the small, ornate box containing

en her on her eighteenth birthday. It was a symbol of

e jewels and documents, was a safe deposit box with her na

iful, antique silver key. She walked over to Linda, who wa

holding out the key.

confused. "

of emotion. "He once told me it represented my future. But my f

the key into

en resting on the doorframe, clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white. A

snarled, his voice a low growl of f

'm just giving things bac

rway, a look of pure, unadulterated rage on his face. He wa

party, an event to officially announce Michael and Linda's engagement. The

t was no longer hers. No one spoke to her unless they had to. S

a. He doted on her, catering to her every whim, a public display of

s counting down the days

alcony, trying to escape the noise and the fake smiles,

oice cold and formal. "I

ould be enough for you to live comfortably for the rest of you

hen back at Eleanor's hard-s

want yo

. This is the best offe

oice firm. She had her own plans.

aw the check in his mother's hand and Sarah's defiant ex

u trying to get more money out of my mother? Are you alr

so unfair, that Sarah laug

voice sharp with pain and anger. "You'

him. He stared at her, his a

always provide for you, Sarah. You

, a strange, possessive p

ousy as she took in the scene. The war for Michael's atten