Chapter 3

A bucket of ice water hit my face and I jolted awake.

A bodyguard forced a dress over me and dragged me into the banquet hall.

Under the blazing lights, every bit of my ruined state was on display.

"That's the woman who killed her own daughter?"

"How does she have the nerve to show her face? It's disgusting."

"Poor Professor Harlow. Stuck with a crippled lunatic."

Laughter came at me from every direction, each voice like a slap.

Vanessa walked in holding Pearl's hand, glowing.

She was wearing a white gown I recognized immediately.

Jerome had given it to me the year his company turned its first profit. His first real gift to me.

"Claire." Vanessa's eyes were soft, her voice gentle. "You've been through so much."

I stared at that gown. My stomach turned over.

Pearl suddenly ran at me and drove her heel hard into my injured leg.

The pain exploded. I cried out and pushed her away.

Pearl let herself fall and hit the floor, wailing.

"What are you doing!"

Daniel shoved through and scooped Pearl up.

"Haven't you been in prison long enough? Now you're going after Pearl too?"

Jerome grabbed my wrist.

"This is an important occasion. I will not have you causing a scene."

I wrenched free and moved toward the exit, dragging my leg.

Vanessa's tears were already falling, her voice rising over the room.

"Claire abused Lily, fine. But why take it out on innocent little Pearl?"

"As Jerome's foster sister, it isn't my place to interfere. But I can't stand by and watch."

"Pearl is just a child. How can you be so cruel?"

She wept beautifully. Guests around her shook their heads.

The screens at the front of the hall lit up.

A group of reporters I'd never seen closed in around me.

"Ms. Harlow, our sources indicate your father had a history of domestic violence and your mother killed him before taking her own life."

"Is it possible you inherited your mother's violent tendencies? Is that what happened with your daughter?"

Camera flashes strobed. Microphones pressed close to my face.

I stood frozen, the noise drilling into my skull.

Then I found my voice.

"I was framed."

"Vanessa is not his foster sister. She is his mistress."

"Pearl is their illegitimate child. They killed my daughter and put me in prison to cover it up."

The room went completely silent.

Vanessa's face drained white. She swayed and nearly fell.

Jerome reached out and steadied her, his arm going around her naturally.

He looked out at the room with practiced calm.

"Please forgive her. My wife has been unstable since her release. The trauma of incarceration."

He turned and put his mouth close to my ear.

"Apologize to Vanessa. Tell them you were jealous. Tell them you made it up."

I looked straight ahead.

"No."

Jerome opened his phone. One message on the screen, already composed.

Destroy the ashes.

My whole body went cold.

"Jerome. You're insane. That's your own daughter."

"You won't do it. You won't."

Jerome looked at me without expression and pressed send.

"No!"

I dropped to my knees. Tears came without warning.

"I'm sorry. I was jealous of Vanessa. I lied about her."

"I take it back. I apologize."