gnawing hunger. She was curled on the floor, a thin, dusty sheet pulled over her
nt straight to voicemail. His social media was silent. He had been completely and totally erased
Eleanor peered in, her face a web of worried lines. In her hands,
d," she whispered
ndness, made Chloe's throat tighten. "Thank y
rvously toward the door. "They're downstairs. Your grandmother... she's been on
spine. She knew her family. Their
oed up the stairwell. "Chloe! Get down
on't anger them." She took the empty tray and scu
led clothes. It was a futile gesture, like polishing armor full of holes, but it was all she could
She was the matriarch of the family, a woman whose disapproval was a tangible force in t
d and brittle, without any preamble. "You have ruined a valu
ried to explain.
off, her eyes flashing with anger. "You will ma
photograph from the side table and slid
greasy hair, a fleshy face, and small, predatory eyes that seemed to be und
e sweetness. "He's the chief administrator at the city hospital. A
t in the Miller Corporation would solve the financial difficulties we've been facing.
They were selling her. She was a commodity, a piece of pr
ere contaminated. "I won't do it," she said, her voi
to stone. "You will
N
re a curse on this family! You were born under a bad sign. You killed your pare
of a physical blow. Her parents had died in a car crash when she was eight. Agnes had
ome use," Vivian chimed in, her voic
ncerned face. "Chloe, please. They're
unt's vicious glee, her cousin's false sympathy. Something inside he
h fear, but with a sudden, blazing rage. She me
Not. Mar
shard of ice,
silence. No one in this family h
eked, rising from her chair. "Take her back to the attic! Lock the door. No food
gnes's orders were carried out. Chloe didn't strugg
eyes were not filled with despair. They were bright with the fire of rebellio
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