Cold sweat soaked through her thin nightgown, pasting it to her s
ass of water, but she ignored it. She grabbed her smartphone, her thum
date display glowing brigh
ber
six months befo
She dropped the phone onto the mattress. She threw the
ug. Her knees buckled instantly,
r kneecaps. She scrambled up and sprin
vase on a pedestal. It wobbled wildly, but she did not stop to look. Her
shoved it open with so much force that the heav
sun filled
a clean yellow dress, quietly brushing the hair of a plastic d
floor and pulled Clara into her chest. She wrapped
wn Elliana's cheeks. They s
d the doll and patted Elliana's back wi
eady, strong pulse of her daughter's heartbeat against h
tmare. It was a warning. A second chance granted by the universe. In her past life, she had shrunk herself into nothingness, hoping her submission would earn her family's safety. It had on
re both alive. She had
eps echoed from the hall
milk on a small tray. Her eyes swept over Elliana sitting on the floor
ster's breakfast," Marta said. Her tone was flat
was the mole. Marta was the one who reported her every move to Kyle. Marta wa
id not lower her head. She did not bite the inside
. Her eyes were as cold
lf-step backward, her grip tightening on the t
hroat. Her fingers twitched with the urge to caus
," Elliana ordered. Her vo
She frowned, walked over to the small table, and slammed the
ch. She stared direc
liana said. "Do not
stopped her. She muttered something under her breath, turned on her h
shut. She walked into the adjoining ba
protect Devontae's fragile ego. She had hidden her degree from the Rhode Island School of Design. She had bu
her and her da
onto her face, scrubbing her skin until it turned re
grabbed the conservative, dull dresses Devonta
harp, tailored black silk blouse. She put it on. The fabric
buzzed on
alendar notification
mily Charity Ga
el smile spread across her lips. The fi
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