ment. She slid it, along with the silver key, i
the flame to her grandfather's handwritten note, watching
eenhouse. The sky outside was just be
changed into a simple, gray loungewear set. Her e
se Hortensia's lies before the family court. A public breakfast where Hortensia's own hand would t
nes, the head cook, saw her and immediately looked do
the industrial refrigerator
large pot of vegetable chowder-no seafood at all. She knew Hortensia's allergy all too w
oor. Daxton's mother, Meredith, and his s
Emmie carrying the soup tureen. "God, the whol
maid anyway. It's the only thing she's good for. Don't forget the l
't change. She turned around and walked
e white dress. Her left cheek was visibly red-she had
rs. Ellis," she said softly, turning her head j
done it-the maid had reported everything. But she chose to say nothing, letting
errified, glancing toward the kitchen where Emmi
e didn't look at them. She sat at the abso
just want peace." To prove her point, she
poon from the center of
r for a crab salad-left over from last night's dinner that Emmie hadn't attended. She saw
dropped the spoon. It clatt
the expensive Persian rug. She let out a horrific, high-pitched wheezing sound as her airway ra
her chair backward. "Get th
ed into chaos. Maids r
. She took a slow sip of her black coffee. Her co
ade Hortensia a separate bowl of plain oatmeal.
ia had dropped. A tiny, microscopic shred
aminated serving spoon to eat the soup. S
e stairs. Daxton burst into the dining r
the floor. Then, h
mie. The look in his eyes wa
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