Claire’s POV

“Still pretending you have nothing left to lose, Claire?”

The pendant swung from her fingers, catching the light with every small turn.

My fingers trembled against my dress. Not from fear, but from rage I had swallowed in this house for too many years.

Victoria saw the tremble and read it the way she always read me.

Her smile widened.

She thought she’d found the soft spot.

“You always were sentimental about her things,” Victoria said. She let the pendant sway again.

“My mother’s pendant,” I said.

Victoria paused.

I lifted my eyes to hers. “Say it properly.”

Her smile thinned. “Fine. Your mother’s pendant.”

The words hit...