She looked like royalty. Like someone born into love.
Her lips curled into a smile the second she saw me.
“Oh no, Annelise... you look awful,” she cooed. “Guess it’s true what they say—when a woman gets old, the bloom fades. No wonder Colin lost interest.”
Then, with mock concern, she said, “Still haven’t buried your mom? Want me to help plan the funeral? I mean, we are family after all.”
My hands curled into fists. Rage boiled up inside me until it threatened to burn me alive.
“You knew it was a scam,” I hissed. “You knew! That was telecom fraud and tricked my mom into giving up every cent she had!”
She feigned hurt, but the corner of her lips twitched with amusement.
“How could you accuse me like that? I was just trying to help,” she said sweetly. “Your mom wanted to earn more for your wedding dowry. I couldn’t say no to her, could I?”
My chest tightened. I could feel the blood rushing to my head.
“Boy, that old hag love you like the world, didn’t she?” she sneered.
Then she leaned in close and whispered near my ear, “One day, I stepped on Mr. Marks’s favorite peonies—on purpose. The butler said he’d dock her three months’ pay. She begged on her knees. Right there.”
“I found out later she hadn’t taken a day off in months. Just to save money… for you,” Piper went on, giggling. “When I told her to crawl through the garden like a dog? She did it. Just like that.”
My world crumbled. All those times my mother smiled and told me not to worry about a thing while I planned my wedding... I never knew what she had to endure for my sake.
As the elevator doors opened, something inside me snapped.
I raised my hand, eyes blazing.
“Piper, you’re a monster!”
But before my hand even touched her, she threw herself out of the elevator, crying hysterically as she held her face.
“Annelise, I said I was sorry! I even knelt to you, but you’re still being so cruel—do you really want me dead that badly?!” she sobbed dramatically. “If you want me dead so bad, then fine! I’ll die for your mother!”
She staggered up, pretending to hurl herself into the wall.
“Piper!”
A figure rushed forward, arms wrapping protectively around her—Colin.
He yanked her into his arms and slammed into me with his shoulder. I wasn’t prepared. My head whipped back, smacking the wall behind me with a sickening thud.
The world tilted.
Warm blood trickled down the back of my neck.
Colin turned on me, his eyes bloodshot with rage.