ther, a gray smear of serv

mansion like a shadow. Scr

ether. Laughing in the garden. His hand resting

e was a f

ly" drop her fork at dinner, forcing Anastasia to kneel an

ngly sweet tone. "Oh, the floors are just sparkl

public reminder o

ss partners of Courtland's. Anastasia was serving the mea

rling, watched her with a

ked, his voice loud enough for the whole table

"Oh, Anastasia doesn't mind. It's... t

implication was clear. She

p her neck. She kept her head down, he

lates, she heard Kinsley speaking to Cou

trange way, Courtland. It's n

just outside the

with feigned worry. "Ever since you took her in. She never understo

d washed ov

w, cutting. "She has bee

ey pressed. "Sometimes, I

Courtland summoned

by his desk, h

bout you," he began,

re harboring unhe

ned silent. Her

de with something else. A delus

ession was cold, clinical. Like

My only duty now is to ensure you do not cau

box he had given her on her sixteenth birthday. It played her f

it was as delicate an

nsley, who had jus

is voice soft as he spoke to her. "A token of a

triumph. She looked at Anastasia and smiled.

l negation of everythin

dinner, Courtland m

set a date. We'll be

s glass. "To

ir congratulations. El

vy silver platter. The weight of it was no

ut. She had to g

f from the room, h

ld night air. The rain had started, a fin

nding driveway, the gravel c

she was going. She jus

ly, completel