That night was the most disgusting one Sophia had experienced in her twenty-five years.

By morning, when she walked out of the room, she could barely stand.

She called Grace, “Mom, come pick me up.”

Grace heard the weakness in her voice and, instead of being worried, was excited, “Did you succeed?”

“Yeah…” Sophia gritted her teeth, “Mom, I’ve been doing everything you told me, trying to please Sam. But he’s terrifying. I don’t think I can take much more. I’m scared I won’t hold out…”

Grace felt a pang of sympathy, “Sophia, don’t blame me. I’m doing this for our future. Emily is already powerful, and Logan is unreliable....