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I existed in a quiet state of shock I could feel breath entering and exitingdully in ed to soer’s, and I was only sitting inside it, peering out at the strange, dark, dangerous world
A world that had finally taught me, too late for the lesson to be of any use, not to trust anyone
Philip sat stoically in the front seat, and besidelike claws as she rested her hands on her lap When the car dropped us off, she walked quickly up the steps, and randfather behind me
The second I entered the foyer, a stinging slap hit the side of my face
I gasped, stuhtly
“How dare you?” Jacqueline kept her hand raised, her voice low and tre but provide for you since theThat you respect our family name That you respect us”
“I—”
“One Rule And you broke it so completely you wentacross the large, echoing foyer “Iht Connected people And they all watched race her entire legacy” Her hazel eyes were accusatory as she rounded on ain “If you think everyone in Roseland won’t know about this by to You don’t think there are people ill be only too happy to see another Hildebrand self-destruct? Who’ve been just waiting for this to happen?”
My jaw tightened, and I bit my lip so hard it hurt Did she think I’d wanted this to happen? That I’d done it on purpose to hurt her?
She stalked toward unshots on the polished marble floor “Those pictures Those videos It was like watching Charlotte all over again I asked you, Talia I asked you point blank if you were partying or drinking And you fucking lied to me!”
I’d never heard her curse before, and it shocked me out of my stupor
“So what?” I gestured wildly in Philip’s direction, er “He drinks all the time!”
Another slap landed across my cheek, in the exact same place as the first Then another And another Just like my dad had used to do He’d hit the sa each strike to make the next one feel worse
When they finally stopped co hard as I re to catch htened, Philip had pulled Jacqueline a few feet away from me He held her by the elbows, and her chest rose and fell as she stared atwith soret
I sed “I didn’t mean—”