I held my temper. I watched Clement walk up to me, grip my chin so hard the bones ached, and tilt my face toward his. "Carla. I never loved you. Not once. Every time I lowered myself for you was the most humiliating moment of my life. But soon enough, you'll know exactly how that feels."
He released my chin, turned on his heel, and gave the order. "Bring Dawn and Tilly in. Once Dawn takes over Carla's body, bring Virginia back to serve as Tilly's vessel."
Moments later, two snakes were carried in, tongues flicking with excitement.
"Dawn, are you ready?"
The red-scaled snake lifted its head. Darling, I've waited so long for this day!
The black-scaled snake writhed with impatience. Daddy, hurry up and bring Mommy back! She shouldn't have to suffer anymore!
Clement stared at the jade pendant around my neck, his gaze locked on it as the stone deepened toward crimson. In the final minute before it turned completely red, his expression was pure, unhinged mania.
"Starting today, the lady of this house is Dawn Henson. The master is me, Clement Sanchez. Everything the Fox family owns belongs to me. My mother will never have to bow and scrape again. She'll live like the rich woman she deserves to be."
"As for Carla and that little brat of hers..."
"They'll vanish from this world completely. As if they never existed at all."
Lauren Lawrence started clapping first.
A dozen voices erupted in cheers around the room.
"Son, you're brilliant!"
"Clement really pulled it off!"
"We're going to be rich!"
Clement soaked it all in, laughing with wild, reckless triumph.
He walked back to me, and his final words dripped with the condescension of a man tossing a coin to a beggar. "Carla. Any last words?"
I lifted my head and smiled. Cold as a blade.
"Of course I do. But these aren't last words."
"First: that watch on your wrist? Tilly's cursed jade pendant is hidden inside it. The stone should be completely red by now."
Clement froze. His gaze dropped to his wrist.
"Second..."
I pulled my phone from under the pillow. On the screen, a 911 call was still connected.
"You brought people to break into my home, threatened my safety, and tried to seize my property. The police heard every word."
The cheering died like a switch had been flipped.
Clement's face changed. He lunged for the phone, but his hand locked mid-air.
"What's happening... my body..."
Every eye in the room turned to him.