"Getting angry already?" Amara said, cutting Elowen off before she could retort. "But what''s the use of getting angry?"


    "If you had any skills to speak of, you could use something real to put me in my ce, instead of spouting superstitious, ridiculous, and baseless nonsense about crows and bad luck."


    "How can anyone respect you when you act like this?"


    Amara knew Elowen well enough to pinpoint her deepest insecurities, and she aimed right for them. After all, Elowen had started it.


    Elowen was so furious she felt she might cough up blood. She pointed a finger at Amara''s nose. "And how are you any better? Not only are you divorced, but you were abandoned by Finnian..."


    "Hold on."


    Amara interrupted her, her tone light and casual. “I wasn''t abandoned by Finnian. Our marriage was a transaction, and now the transaction is over, so we went our separate ways. Everyone in Wye''s high society knows that. Don''t tell me you didn''t?"


    If Elowen admitted she didn''t know, it would mean she wasn''t part of Wye''s high society.


    And Elowen was terrified of people pointing out her background, of being seen as the baggage Fiona Faye Sullivan had brought into the family, living in luxury only because of her mother''s good fortune. There was no way she would admit it.


    Cornered, she fell silent, biting her lip so hard it looked like her eyes might pop out.


    Amara had mastered the art of dealing with Elowen.


    If Fiona were here to back her up, it might have been more of a challenge. But with only this fool to contend with, she could crush her without even trying.


    "Anything else to say, sister?" Amara asked, a faint smile on her lips.


    Elowen had once longed for Amara to call her sister, as it would imply a higher status. But now, the word dripped with sarcasm.


    She couldn''t understand it. How had the timid, withdrawn person who barely spoke a few words at gatherings be so sharp-tongued?


    Elowen decided to stop wasting her breath.


    She stepped closer to Amara and lowered her voice. "Are you nning to just find some random guy to marry so you can inherit Dad''s shares?"


    “Let me tell you, Dad wants you to find someone decent and settle down before he gives you those shares."


    "If you just marry any random


    person, Dad will see right through it. Then you''ll not only be stuck in a marriage you can''t get out of, but you won''t get a single penny you''ll be left with nothing but tears."


    Amara''s heart skipped a beat. Elowen had a point. If she married just anyone, Larry would likely figure it out, and she could end up losing everything.


    Of course, she would never admit that to Elowen. "You really like to meddle in other people''s business. This as between me and Dad What does it have to do with you?"


    "Oh, that''s right. Dad didn''t leave you much of anything, so you must be bored out of


    your mind, resorting to spouting nonsense."


    This struck another nerve.


    Elowen couldn''t understand it. Both she and Amara were his biological daughters, and for years, he had been so much Kinder to her out of guilt. Why, then, when it came to the shares, did she receive not even a fifth of what Amara was getting?


    The conversation hadsted less than five minutes, but to Elowen, it felt like an entire day. This must be what it felt like for time to crawl.


    She didn''t want to exchange another word with Amara, fearing she might actually die of anger. She grabbed Amelia''s arm, ready to leave.


    Amara was about to let them go, but as Amelia turned, she cast a dark, menacing nce her way. On impulse, Amara stepped forward and grabbed Amelia''s arm.