Chapter 2

When I didn't back down, Vivian stopped tapping the armrest. Her glare turned vicious.

The girl beside her offered me an empty wineglass. She acted as if she were trying to smooth things over, but every word pressured me to give in. "Your sister's being nice enough to teach you some manners. It's for your own good. Pour her a drink and apologize. Don't ruin everyone's fun."

I pushed the glass away. "This is my welcome-home party," I said, calm but firm. "I'm the guest of honor. I'm not here to serve you wine."

Martin Cole, the club manager, hurried over when he heard the commotion. Lucy immediately showed him the plans Mom had given her. "Mrs. Hartley arranged for Nora to come early to try on her dress. Tonight is all about her."

Martin barely glanced at the document before pushing the tray of drinks toward me anyway. "You're family. Why make a fuss over a little disagreement between sisters? Listen to your sister. Don't give the guests something to laugh at."

"She's handing my gifts out to other people and taking my seat. And that's not embarrassing?" I stepped around the tray. All I wanted was to find Lucy and leave.

Before I'd finished speaking, Vivian stood, snatched a small frosted cake from the dessert table, and slammed it onto my head.

Cold, sweet frosting covered one eye. Crumbs slipped inside my collar, sticking to my neck and making my skin itch. I felt utterly humiliated.

Loud laughter erupted around me. Amber moved closer with her phone until the lens was almost touching my nose, openly filming every second of it.

"Don't hide. Let everyone get a good look at the new little sister they found."

I fought down the hurt and shame, grabbed a napkin from the table, and wiped desperately at my eyes. The more frantic I got, the harder it was to control my shaking fingers. I needed to get out. I could barely stand being there.

"Lucy. Get me out of here."

But Vivian strode over and clamped her fingers around my left wrist so hard I thought she might crush it.

"You can go. Just leave what you stole."

She seized the ring Mom had given me the night before and dragged it over my knuckle. Pain shot from my finger up my arm. I tried to pull back, but she ripped the tight ring off and held it in her palm.

"Mom gave me that last night. I didn't steal it." I looked straight at her. "Call her. You can ask her right now."

Vivian held the ring up for her friends, mocking me. "One day here and you're already helping yourself to Mom's valuables. After all those years whoring around, no wonder you have no class!"

"You have no right to call me that! You made all of this up!" I wasn't going to let her lies stand.

Vivian scoffed, released my wrist, and tossed the ring onto the floor.

I bent to pick it up. Just as my fingers touched the cold metal, she stamped down hard on the back of my hand.

Pain tore through me. I cried out and braced my right hand against the floor, desperately trying to pull away. Her foot ground into my left hand, pinning me in place.

"Let me go!" I cried. Lucy rushed to help me, frantic, but Martin held her back.

"It's just sisters playing around. Don't make a scene and upset Vivian." With Martin openly taking her side, I didn't stand a chance.

Amber kept filming and snapping pictures. I could hear the shutter clicking. The other girls watched coldly. Not one tried to stop it.

My vision dimmed with pain, and sweat soaked through the back of my shirt. As I looked up at Vivian, I remembered the pain-link system. My parents and brothers had to be feeling every bit of this right now.

But Vivian only grinned. She demanded I admit I'd stolen the ring and showed no sign of stopping.

Lucy finally broke free of Martin and rushed over again. Only then did Vivian reluctantly lift her foot. Before I could move, she bent down and snatched up the ring.

I gripped the edge of the table and slowly got to my feet. My left hand was swollen and red, a clear shoe print across it. My phone kept vibrating in my pocket. Mom was calling.

I struggled to raise the phone in my right hand. Before I could touch the screen, Vivian swung at it.

The phone hit the corner of the table and crashed to the floor. The screen still showed Mom's incoming call. It kept vibrating and ringing, but no one could answer.

I looked Vivian in the eye, struggling to keep my voice steady. "When I get hurt, my parents and brothers get the same injuries. They must know something's happened to me."

Amber paused, then laughed even harder. "What kind of ridiculous excuse is that? Do you think we're stupid?"

Vivian stared at my swollen hand. Instead of backing off, she gripped the ring tighter, looking vicious.

"Then let them hurt, too! I'd like to see anyone try to save you!"

She raised her hand and slapped me hard.

"You lying little bitch! You think you can scare me with Mom and Dad?"

"I've been with them for 17 years. This has been my home for 17 years! You're some bastard from God knows where! Why should you get to walk in and take everything from me?"

The blow snapped my head sideways. My right ear rang, drowning out everything else, and half my face burned. I gripped the table to stay upright. The pain kept building until I could barely stand.

Lucy immediately stepped in front of me and ordered Martin to call security. He only glanced nervously at the door, worried the guests would come over to watch. In a low voice, he urged us to let it go.

Then Martin's phone rang. His expression changed the instant he saw who was calling, and he answered with quiet deference. "Mr. Hartley."

The voice on the other end was cold with fury, loud enough for all of us to hear. "Who's hurting Nora? Stop them. Don't let anyone touch her again!"