Chapter 4

I aimed the pistol at Andrew's head.

The bodyguards rushed at me. One of them knocked my arm aside, sending the shot wide.

I tried to fire again, but someone grabbed my arms from behind while another guard kicked my legs out from under me, forcing me to my knees.

The pistol hit the floor with a clatter.

Victor stormed toward me, his eyes burning with rage.

"Lily! Just because you're my sister-in-law, do you really think you're important?"

Abel's small face went pale. He inched closer to Victor and tugged on his hand.

"Dad, that piece of meat looks like a heart! Is that Julie? She's crazy! Get her out of here!"

He looked at me with pure hatred and disgust.

So this is the wonderful son I gave birth to.

I burst out laughing.

Victor slapped me hard across the face.

I spat out a mouthful of blood and looked up at him.

"Victor, you stood by while Sophia tortured me for years. Did you ever stop to think about what you'd say to Wendy when she came back?"

Victor scoffed, "Sophia saved my life, so she's Wendy's savior too. If your sister were here, she'd be grateful to Sophia."

Grateful?

Abel curled his lip.

"Why did you bring up that woman again? Mommy got sick saving Daddy, and you upset her every day! Now you've killed Julie too. Why don't you just die?"

Sophia choked back a sob. "Lily, I know you hate me, but what did Julie ever do to deserve this? Whatever problem you have with me, take it out on me. Why did you have to kill her?"

She leaned closer. The grief instantly disappeared from her voice. "You're harder to kill than I thought. I tried to run you over again and again, and you still didn't die? Now that you've murdered someone in front of all these witnesses, there's no way you'll escape the death penalty!

"Since you're going to die anyway, I might as well tell you the truth. I'm perfectly healthy. There was never anything wrong with my immune system."

I trembled with rage. My blood churned inside me, and I suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood.

Sophia jumped back, but a few drops still splashed onto the hem of her wedding dress.

She glared at me.

"How dare you get blood on my wedding dress! Fine, I've changed my mind. Forget prison. I'll sell you to some underground freak show and make you perform like an animal!

"As for that sister of yours, I'll make you eat her ashes. You really don't know, do you? Your sister's been dead for years! I'm the one running this household now! That bitch can only envy me from the grave!"

Envy?

I looked at her and laughed, even as blood ran down my chin.

"I do envy you, Sophia."

Before Sophia could understand what I meant, I tore free of the guards and lunged at her heart with my dagger.

"Stop her!"

Victor threw out a hand to shield Sophia's heart.

I changed course. One hand closed around Sophia's throat while I pressed the dagger against her face with the other.

Black markings began spreading across my skin.

Victor watched the black lines race over my skin and suddenly froze.

His voice faltered. "Are you Lily or Wendy?"

As Sophia screamed, I dragged the dagger across her face, cutting deep into her skin. Then I smiled.

"Honey, it's only been five years. Have you already forgotten what your wife looks like?"