All Chapters of All Shades of Passion: Chapter 241 - Chapter 245

Sheila's POVI returned to the party.The doorbell rang twenty minutes later.A courier. Two packages.The first was a shoebox. Christian Louboutin heels in Zuki's size with a handwritten card from my mother tucked inside. "Happy Birthday my darling niece. Wear them somewhere fabulous. Love, Aunty."The second was an envelope in my father's handwriting. Inside was a cheque for twenty thousand dollars and a card that said simply: "Enjoy your youth. Love, Uncle."I carried both to Zuki and set them on the table in front of her.She opened the shoebox first. Lifted out one heel and held it up to the light the way people hold up newborn babies. The room gathered."Are those—" one of the girls started."Louboutins," Zuki confirmed, in a tone that suggested the conversation was over.She set the shoe down reverently and opened my father's envelope next. Read the card. Looked at the cheque. Looked at it for a long moment."Twenty thousand dollars," she said quietly."Yes," I said.She set it

Sheila's POVMorning came in slowly through the curtains.I lay there for a while just watching the light change on the ceiling. Gold at first, then pale, then the soft flat white of Christmas morning. Somewhere outside a bird was making noise.For a few seconds, before my brain caught up, everything felt okay.Then it caught up.I closed my eyes and just breathed. Last night came back in pieces. The music. The lace. Her hands on me and then gone. The way she had looked at me before she went upstairs.I stayed in bed until I couldn't anymore.Downstairs the living room still looked like a party that had ended too soon. Balloons leaning against the wall. Empty cups on the side table. The cake with only a few slices missing sitting under its glass cover. The fairy lights were still on, blinking quietly like they hadn't gotten the memo that the night was over.I made coffee and stood in the kitchen listening to the house. It was strange how loud a big house could be when it was empty. U

Sheila's POVI slapped my hand flat over my mouth as I watched the lip gloss disappear into her jacket pocket. Smooth as anything.And then she turned toward the exit, walking majestically, totally unbothered, like she had not just shoplifted a lipgloss.I raised my eyes to the roof. Lord help me.I was already moving.I came around the corner fast, spotted the security guard closing in from the left and made my decision without even thinking about it.I turned into her aisle, spread my arms wide and opened my mouth."Oh my God. Zuki. There you are. I have been looking everywhere for you."The look on her face when she turned around almost made me lose it completely right there.I held it together.I smiled at the guard like a woman with nothing to hide, touched his arm, apologized warmly for my wandering cousin, walked us to self checkout, scanned the lip gloss, tapped my card and had us out the door in under ninety seconds.Then we were walking fast.Then faster.Then we were runnin