d whipping strands of hair across her face. A wave of dizziness washed over he
rb. The back door opened. It was Stan Kowalski, the
o give you a ride, miss,"
elt like lead and her mind was a fog of despair. Defeated, she slid in
his eyes meeting hers
ash in her mouth. Going back there was admitting defeat, wal
hloe stared out the window, watching the grand houses blur p
ulated side street lined with overgrown t
nfusion and fear tightening i
r. Instead, he
he dim interior of the car, fo
ancing in her vision were as disorienting as the sudden, vicious at
tone chillingly casual. "She wanted pro
sn't just breaking the engagement; she was systematically destroying C
her. She lunged forward, trying to snatc
her back into the seat with surprising strength.
of the familiar, slightly worn facade of the Miller house. Stan got out,
She watched the black sedan speed away, leaving her in a cloud of exhaust fumes. The co
ragged her suitcase up the wa
d sharp, took in Chloe's disheveled appearance and the suit
Vivian sneered. "Did the Sterlings finally
ted to fight. "I just
hat tone with me,
eper, hurried into the foyer. Her kind, wrinkled face
r shown her genuine affection, a quiet, steady presen
you," Eleanor said, re
n's voice was sharp as glass. "She can ca
ll the co
in a silk robe. She feigned a look of surprise, her eyes wide with mock inn
the previous night. Heather, smiling, handing her a bottle of water at the bachelorette party. "
s mind. She stared at her cousin, searching for any sign of g
ne, you won't be needing your old room," Vivian announce
ge room!" Eleanor protested, her
elf, Eleanor, unless you'd like to find a
the only person who cared about her suffer. "It's fine,
eeling immense. As she began the long climb up
er voice a venomous purr that only Chl
ere laced w
ening into near certainty. Heather's eyes gleamed w
just turned and cont
ture covered in white sheets, like ghosts of a happier pas
den door behind her. The
on the cold, dusty floor. The tears she had held back for so long finally came, silent and hot, carving tr
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