Page 120 (1/2)

She grabbed the little pot of violets on the table, heaved thelass and petals down the wall “It’s not true”

“It’s documented,” Eve said flatly “Richard Draco was your birth father”

“No No” Carly sprang at Eve, shoved her roughly against a table and upended a lamp The china exploded like a bonaled her back, and took the hard slap to the face without atte to block

“Take it back! Take it back!”

She shouted it, tears spurting out of her eyes Her beauty was stark nohite face, dark eyes She grabbed Eve’s shirt, shook, then with a moan, collapsed on her

“Oh God Oh my God”

“Carly” Michael bolted in from the kitchen One look at his face told Eve he’d listened, he’d heard When he rushed to Carly, tried to turn her into his own arms, she shoved away, crossed her arms defensively over her breasts

“Don’t touch me Don’t touch me” Like a candle burned to wax, she slid to the floor in a shuddering puddle

“Peabody, take Michael back into the kitchen”

He stepped back, stared at Eve “It was cruel what you did Cruel” He walked toward the kitchen with Peabody behind him

Eve crouched She could still feel the heat frout was iced over “I’m sorry”

“Are you?”

“Yes”

Carly lifted her face, and her eyes were ravaged “I don’t knoho I loathe more at this moment: myself or you”

“If you were unaware of your blood tie to hi to loathe yourself for”