Maya's mind conjured up an image of her sister's head drooping low, followed by a scene of Mara and Ethan in a moment of intimacy, while she herself remained hidden in a corner, tears streaming down her face. Her mind's meandering led her straight into a fit of rage.

After the butler departed, Maya impulsively grabbed a scalding hot slab of meat from the dining table and hurled it at her sister. Fortunately, Mara's lightning reflexes spared her from a fiery facial tattoo; otherwise, she'd have sported red marks for days, her skin scorched and distorted. Still, a portion of the meat grazed her arm—ouch, that stung!

Enraged, Mara retaliated...