through the air like a blade, sl

r head, meeting his

an standing before he

hoping, of trusting-suddenly se

lson. Is that really what you think

alte

replaced by a flic

ed and gagged. Claire's clothes, thoug

uth to speak-but

n't be mad at my sister. Maybe she. made a mistake. She's been overseas for so

ed with practice

sighs, their judgmental eyes falling on

pression di

hed-soft, bri

lowly, eyes sweepi

into her handbag and pulled out

ed a hidd

rked, followed by a crisp

or slamming shut. Then-t

ky breathin

t up and stay still! You g

oice: "Who sent you? I'l

afford that? Miss Thompson was clear-she wants you humiliated. Ru

h

rp sc

nt of

: "Move again and it won't j

le

om was

lent. Their s

Nels

ady grim, hardened i

still clutching his sleeve

mmered. "She's lying! She's framin

n her face, her co

d through the crowd, b

n? What happene

r daughter and p

ncontrollably, her eyes snapp

thday, Claire. Can't

rying harder. "Mom, it wasn't me. Claire

ently, as if mome

ury only

ed you for twenty years, Claire! And t

together as he watch

s it always had, every time Serena had on

saw eve

e day Serena retu

eclaim the master bedroom

longed to Claire was hande

reated like a shadow. A

called family ties

ok at her like she was th

er arms, voice s

hoping they'd catch me in some com

ter into Elena's embrace, st

re, can't you be the bigger person? Look at

. His voice was low, cold. "S

turned

sm

expected to stand down? To take the

ened. "Now's not t

. "You're right.

pa

just

met his,

signed the d