her a natural advantage. She looked down at Seraphina, who was c
steadily louder, slicing throug
n her supposed distress, she clutch at the bodice of the wedding d
rd. The sound of her heel striking the m
ce low but carrying an unnerving
was a performance Evelyn had seen many times before. "You're trying
ul smile. "Save the victim act for J
but a sharp, warning glance from one of E
pity to malice. "Even if you get the dress back, you'll never ge
on't want it back to wear it," she said softly. "I'm taking it back to bu
physical slap. Her face twisted
it was a pair of gleaming, stainless steel su
l felt satisfying in her hand. She started tombled backward, pushing herself across the floor wit
grabbed a handful of the dress's intri
n
through the delicate fabric was s
ssors away. The two security guards moved in swiftly, each taking one of h
the priceless gown, stripping it away from Seraphina's body piece by piece. The
d gown came free. It lay in a heap o
silk slip, shivering in the cool, air-condi
scissors onto the floor, where t
en, and scribbled out a figure. She tore the check from the
d, her voice dripping with contempt.
final, stinging insult. She was trembling wi
shattered the quiet. A black Aston Martin
toward the house, his face a mask of pure fury. Scar
eeping glance: Seraphina, half-naked and crying on the floor; the shredded re
chest. He charged at Evelyn, h
n front of her, their movements fluid and practiced. They dr
f them commanded, his v
er husband's furious gaze. She looked at him not with fear, but w
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