Ninety-Nine Times, Then No More

nterviews from his hospital bedside, spinning a tale of terror and Chase's selfless bravery. She skillfully painted herself as the primary victim he was protecting, and I was j

ice queen" and "the manipulative heiress." People threw coffee a

ne, shut down my laptop, and ignor

papers for my father, transferring his remaining local assets to his European headquarters

house I grew up in. The house where my mother had died. It had been empty

still lingered in the air-a faint mix of lavender and old books. I ran my hand over her vanity, her bookshelf. I c

and entered her birthday as the code. It clicked open. Inside, nestled on a bed of velv

r familiar, elegant handwriting filled the page. She wrote about her pride in me, her hopes for my future, her unconditiona

er had pushed me into this marriage. I had been cold and distant. I never got to tell her she was right. I never got to say I

She appeared in the doorway, her face full of pity.

Mrs. Gable. She had a strange, nervous look on her face. She gave me a small, hesitant nod and then scur

what it meant, a voic

, sister? How

ious smirk on her face. She poured herself a glass

e thick from crying. I quickly hid the recorder

ppier now. Chase is redecorating the villa for me. Getting rid of all your depressing gray furni

new kind of anger. "You lied about everything. Abo

n lying since the day your parents brought me home. It was so easy. You were always so ser

ith malice. "You and your mother. Two of a kind

through the air before I even thought about it. The crac

and flying to her face,

my voice low and dangerous,