y felt like a
focating in its luxury. A makeup artist worked diligently, applying layers of foundation like spack
k. A woman in a white dress that was far
f the bridesmaids, dressed in a pale gold gown that highlighted her slim f
yes doing a quick, dismissive scan. "Who would have thou
cked in, analyzing the micro-expressions. The slight tremor in the corner of Hephzib
hzibah announced, waving a dismissive han
ll, exquisitely wrapped box. She opened it to
, her voice dripping with false sincerity. "Let
rceive the imperceptible, detected a subtle shift in the air pressure around the compact, a faint shimmer of airborne particles under the light tha
the altar. Turn the sham wedding into a complete circu
ace, a perfect imitation of the girl she was suppo
her fingers brushing
ssed her cousin's face. "Of course,
nerously. She leaned in, her smile widening a
nstant, E
phzibah's wrist like a steel clamp. The motion wa
escaping her lips. The powder puf
he stammered, her eyes
ll warmth. "A gift this nice," she said, her voice a low, chilling
he powder puff with her other hand and, before her cousin could scream, pressed it firmly
perance, swept in with a gaggle of other relatives
iles v
ing a whimpering Hephzibah's wrist, her face
d. She began clawing at Eliza's arm. "You ungrateful lunatic! How
ged her face into an expression of fear and confusio
, running to her mother. "She j
the room. "Violent." "Trash." "
silently a
it b
in spread across her face. She giggled. Then s
ice filled with awe and terror. "T
had tak
e of her bridesmaid dress, babbling about spiders in her hair. She sh
ychotic breakdown, h
e, whose face had drained of all color. The woman understood. She understood what her d
of security, who had been drawn by th
oice perfectly level, "you
nt of her wedding dress. When she looked up, every person in the room was staring a
e
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