Kate Goodwin and Tracey sat in a ss enclosure, their mouths sealed with duct tape and their bodies bound with chains, unable to move even an inch.


    From where I stood, the world seemed utterly deranged,pletely upside down.


    "If I can''t save Lily Williams, then I''m going to save them," I said, tears threatening to spill over my cheeks. I thought I had ensured their safety, that Max Hilton had gotten them out. So why were they here?


    "Helen, didn''t Max make sure they got out safely? When Lily told me to rescue people amidst the chaos, she must have meant them."


    Helen gripped my wrist, signaling me to stay calm. "Mr. Hilton would never fail to get them out safely. There must be another reason. You have to trust him."


    I did trust Max, but my eyes were telling me a different story.


    The auctioneer was a madman,pletely deranged. "Ten million to start the bid. You have to bid on both. It''s more fun that way."


    The bidders were equally insane, driving the price up higher and higher. "Forty million for the pair!"


    "Eighty million!"


    "A hundred million!"


    Just as the numbers reached a ludicrous height, a gunshot rang out, silencing the


    room instantly.


    Panic ensued. "I don''t want to die!"


    "My jewelry! Don''t step on it!"


    "I can''t die now; I haven''t even spent half my fortune!"


    And then it all became clear why Lily was so determined to kill.


    I turned to where she was, only to p a hand over my mouth. Princess Harriet


    had killed Lily. She was slumped over the princess''s shoulder.


    Princess Harriet was a contradiction of emotions,ughing and crying as she clutched Lily''s body. "Why did you try to kill me? Why?"


    I rushed forward, desperate to take Lily away.


    Helen pulled me back. "We have to save the others first."


    Somehow, she had orchestrated a n to free Kate and Tracey, and we made our escape through the chaos, heading for the back exit. In the distance, I saw Max getting into another car.


    I needed to talk to him about what had happened today, but then I saw Princess Harriet emerge, sobbing, and throw herself into


    swn arms.


    I stood there, frozen in shock.


    Helen dragged me into a car. "We have to go now, or it''ll be toote."


    I turned to look at Helen, stunned into silence.


    Finally, I understood how Max had managed to move around so freely in that ce.


    My heart twisted painfully. My sister was dead. She was dead. I had only just found her.


    "ire, say something! What''s wrong?"


    I had to take care of the Goodwin sisters andfort my terrified Helen.


    I couldn''t speak, my mouth open, hands gesturing wildly in a futile attempt tomunicate.


    It also exined why Helen insisted Max


    Sa Sent the Goodwin sisters


    out


    the


    swakimet


    only for them to end auction.


    Did he use them to gain the princess''s favor?


    up


    And if my sister wanted the princess dead, did Max tell Harriet?


    Max hadn''t shown up for the entire auction, yet there he was, embracing Princess Harriet at the end.


    My world plunged into darkness once more.


    "ire, what''s wrong? Don''t scare me."


    Helen shook me gently. Even the


    sisters, initially


    staring nkly, all


    broken in our own way et


    It seemed I had lost the ability to speak.


    "ire, you must have misunderstood something. Please, trust Mr. Hilton. He''s


    risking everything for you."


    I let out a hollowugh, feeling my eyes betray me again today.


    All I could see was darkness.