The Chill of Betrayal

was on every

loe Sterling Wins Nat

ooking down at the heavy gold medal around her neck, a small, shy smi

my heart swelling with a pride that was sharp and

k at the TV. She didn't look at me. Her eyes, cold and hard as polishe

with a nervous excitem

e screen on the wall, her movements stiff with fury. Wi

m went

doing?" Victoria' s voic

ishing. "I... I just won.

pstairs, in his room, and he won't even come out. His life is ruined. His future is gone because of

nger at the medal still ha

air. This is Chloe's moment. She earned

Ethan. You have no idea what it means to prot

ng resentment. "You did this on purpose. You wanted

ce broke, tears welling in her ey

m, her grip like iron. "You need to learn a lesson about family

ing Chloe toward

p it!" I yelled, r

he sound of our daughter' s terrified sob echoing in the dar

ock c

g Victoria's arm. "You can't leave her in

f pure contempt. "She can stay in there and think

humb tapping on a screen. A low

she said, her voice chillingly calm. "A