A wealthy heiress discovers that the people closest to her have made room in their lives for another woman—but not for her. Cast aside and forced to beg, she decides she is done pleading and sets out to reclaim what is rightfully hers.
The zipper gave. Everything came out. Not just the bags and jewelry. My underwear went across the floor. People were turning to look. My fingers closed tight and I crouched to gather it Julian's face changed. He caught my wrist.
Have I not given you enough? You have to sell this stuff? Pack it up and get out of here. Let go of me.
I threw his hand off and started shoving everything back in. Underwear and handbags together. Did you beg him for them? Say it!
The crowd kept growing. I saw the broken frame and my head went white. Vivi. Julian caught her before she could do more.
And for the first time, his face went hard at her. She wrenched her arm free and said something to him. I couldn't hear it anymore. The glass had cut across the Carter's photograph.
I picked it up with shaking hands and stood. Vivian's mouth was still moving, still going at him. This conversation is first. The world snapped back.
You animal. I screamed it and swung at her face. Julian shouted and pulled her behind him, catching my wrist. What are you doing?
Let go! I fought him, screaming. The slap never landed, and the thing packed into my chest had nowhere to go. I couldn't breathe around it.
That is when Vivienne saw her opening and hit me across the face.