orway of the estate when Frederick's voice, sha
r in three long strides, blocking her exit once more. In h
ce pa
wanted," he said, thrusting the papers at
mand into his dismissal. He wanted to be the one
iumphant, predatory light. This was it.
tching the climax of the most spectacular
her previous life, he had waved this same document in her face countless times, a
y took the papers an
flipped directly to the last page
swift, angry slash o
rick was left speechless. The litany of cruel, cu
ed it? Just
st. Her touch was impersonal, like a clerk returning a rece
hand frozen midair wher
wasn't f
towards the small stage where the master of ceremonies had been speaking earlier. She pi
so sorry for the disruption to my birthday party. To celebrate
ad washed
her phone and p
e, which had been displaying a tasteful slide
ainy, dark security footage fro
ough-looking men. Her voice, captured by
t make it look good. And remember, you have to ma
ed Ciara handing a thick sta
voice on the recording said. "Don't worry.
ed. The scree
llroom was absolute,
om turned. Every pair of eyes, lik
violently, her lips moving without a sound. "No
as of shock and utter disbelief. The gentle, fragile Ciara he had p
tched the beautiful, intricate trap she had laid spring
in the dead silence. It was the vo
ou have anything
t. Her legs gave out, and she crumpled to the flo
he first shot was fired. It wa
woman on the stage. Her face was cold, impassive, yet illuminated by a terrifying new st
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