eigh

I had severely underestimated Fiona' s tenacity. She wasn't just a preda

ooms where it didn' t belong. She played the part of the perfect future daughter-in-law to a nauseating de

a kind of sport for her, a se

ent but distracted, or when the

h a pitying smile. "It' s a bit severe for a young woman. You should let me take

n. "All that work for your architecture degree, it' s so impressive! But really, you don'

ndent, a charity case, a bookish spinster-in-trai

small family dinner with a few of Kenneth' s cousins. One

just wonderful, Calleigh. Your p

hank her, Fiona, who had been sitting beside me, slung an arm arou

She emphasized the word 'little' with a patronizing pat on my arm. "In fact, once Brock and I are married, I' m going to make it my personal missi

le went

The cousins exchanged awkward g

ut for me like I was a piece of property to be disposed of, in fr

nt cold. I slowly

ol his girlfriend. Brock, to his credit, looked mortified. He r

arning or didn' t care. She picked up a piece of aspa

e. You' re too thin," she said, h

er perfectly made-up face, her smug, smiling eyes. And something inside me, som

g unforgivable, when a deep voice cut

ion

echoed in the silent room. He wasn' t looking at her, but his

ee. "Her future is her own to decide. Her place in this house is permanent and non-negotiable

er face went from smug to

er eyes wide with shock. "I...

ly turning to look at her. His gaze

e glass and took a s

stormy expression. I knew I should have felt victorious. My father had defended me, unequivocally.

able, a look of pure, unadulterated hatred, I

-