Chapter 4 4

Augustina walked into the lavishly decorated living room.

Her soaked canvas shoes left a trail of muddy, wet footprints across the priceless Persian rug.

Her eldest brother, Preston, sat on a French tufted sofa. He lowered his copy of the Wall Street Journal, his eyes narrowing in disgust at the mud on the floor.

Felton sat in the oversized leather armchair at the head of the room. He held a crystal glass of whiskey. His face was dark as a thundercloud.

The moment Cindy stepped into the room, she started shrieking.

"Felton! You won't believe the attitude on her in the car!" Cindy pointed a shaking finger at Augustina. "She refused to apologize!"

Kayleigh squeezed her eyes shut, forcing a few tears to spill over her lashes. She shrank back against the wall, playing the terrified victim flawlessly.

Dustin slammed his hands down on a side table and shot up to his feet.

"Get on your knees right now and apologize to Mom!" Dustin roared, his face turning purple.

Augustina didn't look at him. She walked straight past the sofas, heading directly for the crystal wet bar in the center of the room.

She picked up a heavy Baccarat crystal tumbler and filled it to the brim with ice cubes and cold water.

Preston scoffed. "Look at her. No manners at all. She doesn't even answer when spoken to."

Augustina turned around, holding the freezing glass.

She walked slowly toward the sofa where Kayleigh was pretending to cry.

Everyone watched her, assuming she was just thirsty.

Augustina stopped right in front of Kayleigh. Without a single change in her facial expression, she flipped her wrist.

The entire glass of ice water poured directly over Kayleigh's perfectly styled hair.

Kayleigh let out a blood-curdling scream. The freezing water ruined her makeup, sending black mascara running down her cheeks. The ice cubes bounced off her shoulders and scattered across the rug.

Cindy screamed in horror, covering her mouth with both hands.

Felton slammed his whiskey glass down on the coffee table so hard the liquor splashed out.

"You bitch!" Dustin bellowed.

He charged at Augustina like an enraged bull, pulling his fist back to strike her face.

Augustina's eyes hardened. Her body reacted with the pure, violent instinct she had honed in the slums of The Warrens.

She swiftly pivoted her hips and sidestepped to the left.

Dustin swung at empty air. His momentum carried him forward, and he stumbled, slamming his chest hard against the marble bar. He gasped, the wind knocked out of him, collapsing to the floor in a heap of humiliated rage rather than agony.

Preston jumped up, ready to intervene, but he froze in his tracks.

Augustina had casually picked up a silver letter opener from the bar. She flipped it between her fingers.

The sharp, pointed blade caught the light of the crystal chandelier, gleaming with a cold, lethal threat.

The room fell into a dead, heavy silence. The only sounds were Kayleigh's sobbing and Dustin's pained gasps.

Augustina looked down at them from her position by the bar.

"Don't pretend you care about me," Augustina said, her voice slicing through the room like ice. "I know the maids put moldy food in my room. I know you only brought me back to maintain your pathetic philanthropist image for the board."

Felton's face turned a dangerous shade of red. He realized, in that exact moment, that this girl was completely out of his control.

He stood up, his chest heaving.

"If you want to act like a wild animal," Felton threatened, his voice shaking with rage, "I will cut off your trust fund. I will throw you out on the street tonight."

The corner of Augustina's mouth twitched upward into a mocking smile.

She slammed the silver letter opener down.

Thwack.

The blade sank deep into the expensive mahogany coffee table, vibrating from the force.

Cindy flinched violently, pressing herself into the sofa cushions.

Augustina stared dead into Felton's eyes.

"Exactly what I want," she said, emphasizing every syllable.

She leaned forward. "Draft the papers. I want to sever all legal ties. I don't want to carry the Hogan name for another second."

Felton narrowed his eyes. He stared at her defiant face. Slowly, a dark, malicious smirk spread across his lips.