to the top of the stai
ersian rug in the second-floor hallway, her shoulder
against the carpet fibers, trying to put
jacket. He pulled out a thick stack of glossy photograph
uttered to the ground, scattering acr
n. Her breath cau
ed in the sheets with different, faceless men. The
ed, pointing a shaking finger at her. "You f
tectural design, instantly caught the unnatural lighting on the collar
gripped the edges of the photo and
rlos," she spat, throwing the torn pi
ed forward, raising his heavy leat
heels on the hardwood
ed up the steps, followed clos
sted in disgust. "Look at this filth. I always knew you were a
icate hand on Carlos's chest, leaning h
ng with fake sympathy. "She's not worth raising your bl
head. The sudden divorce. The fake photos. The absolute lack of alimony. It
shook, but she locked them. She wiped the blood from her lip with the bac
osie's eyes. She stepped away from Carlos and walked toward
in a voice only Alex could hear, "You're a curse to everyone who comes n
hand and brought it across Josie's face
echoed off th
apsing dramatically into Carlos's arms, clutchin
ged past Josie, his fist pulled back
oting out to grab the heavy bronze vase sitting on the hall
a shard tore Carlos's ankle. Carlos let out a painfu
g her pearls. "Call the po
r with a heavy thud. She looked down at
ily," Alexis said, her v
ered, fake photos, ignoring Carlos's groans. She w
already been swallowed by a sudden, heavy wall of snow clo
ter wind hit her instantly, biti
d herself, shivering. She reached into her pocket, pulled out her phone, her fingers
icon flashed red once, twice, and t
e
he midday gloom. The wind howled around her. She had no money. No phone. No home. Her chest
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