My 21st Birthday: Day Of Reckoning

ic was

ilies, heavy and sweet, f

birthd

ai

private suite, not the cold, dam

The day it all s

Chloe wor

mmissioned, a fortune in s

my cousin Chloe Vance, the poor r

d at her. Whis

hey called me later, when I scre

as they termed i

g

, fell ill, a sudden, mysterious illne

y charming fia

ng. They made an "alliance" with Apex Glo

a trap

. Stripped me

Cold, hard

r that one night, for a stolen

ed. The memory

s time,

would be

my legs st

thing: my

red in the family vault, not th

be brought here, to my suite,

the soft lights, a river of antique lace and

adjoining door.

ady?" Chloe' s voice, s

. "Almos

She wouldn't fi

try for som

gowns. One, a vibrant sapphire blue,

icta

gown. It fit like a second skin, a whisper

, the ball

lready ther

e, and she was making the most of

ue dress. It was striki

t the Thomps

for her s

made my

ed for a beat. C

was breathtaking. It spoke of histo

e her. Co

ds Chloe, my s

aw my gown. Her eyes, for a fleet

carrying in the sudden hush. "That' s a lovely b

ightened.

tuous to wear another woman' s gown to her own bir

led throug

I wouldn' t! This is... this is just a similar style.

y fiancé, rush

andsome face tight with disapproval.

You' re being petty. This is yo

at me like

me in the before-time, whe

and

ac

connecting with Eth

unned. A red mark b

ell me how to behave in my own home. And remembe