Chapter 1 1

"You are a blind, useless weight on this family, Adriane."

The heavy, suffocating scent of Chanel No. 5 hit Adriane's nose. Her stomach churned. She gripped the smooth wood of her white cane until her knuckles turned stark white.

The marble edge of the second-floor staircase dropped off just inches from the toes of her cheap flats. In her vision, the world was nothing but a thick, swirling gray fog. She could not see the stairs, but she could feel the empty space pulling at her.

Sharp high heels clicked against the marble floor. Drucilla Barnett stepped closer. The sound was loud, deliberate, and full of threat.

Adriane took a small step back. Her breathing grew shallow.

"Move out of my way, Drucilla," Adriane said. Her voice shook, but she forced her chin up.

"Kassidy is back in Manhattan," Drucilla said. Her voice was cold and flat.

Adriane's shoulders went completely stiff. Her chest tightened as if an invisible band had snapped around her ribs.

"I am still Chase's legal wife," Adriane said. She squeezed the wooden handrail with her free hand, trying to find a way to step around the older woman.

"Not for long."

Drucilla stepped sideways, blocking the narrow gap. She stood directly in front of Adriane, forcing her right to the edge of the dangerous drop.

Suddenly, the heavy oak front doors downstairs slammed shut. Familiar, heavy footsteps echoed in the grand foyer. Chase was home early from his meeting.

Adriane heard the footsteps. A wave of relief washed over her. She opened her mouth to call out his name.

Before she could make a sound, Drucilla's hand shot out. Long, sharp fingernails dug violently into Adriane's wrist.

Adriane gasped. The sudden pain made her jerk her arm back instinctively. Because of her blindness, she had no balance. She pulled hard.

Drucilla did not let go. Instead, she used Adriane's pulling motion. Drucilla yanked Adriane's hand hard against her own shoulder.

A piercing, blood-curdling scream ripped from Drucilla's throat.

Drucilla let go of Adriane's wrist. The older woman threw her upper body backward.

Adriane's white cane slipped from her sweaty palm. It clattered loudly against the marble, echoing sharply in the vast space. The sudden noise was instantly drowned out as Drucilla threw her weight backward.

A heavy, sickening thud echoed through the massive estate. Then another. And another.

Adriane froze. Her empty hands hovered in the air. Her lungs stopped working. The gray fog in her eyes offered no answers. She had no idea what had just happened.

Downstairs, expensive leather shoes scraped violently against the floor.

"Mother!" Chase's voice roared.

Chase sprinted into the foyer. He stopped dead. His mother lay in a twisted heap at the bottom of the stairs, groaning in pain. Blood pooled on the expensive rug beneath her head.

Chase's head snapped up. His eyes locked onto the top of the stairs.

Adriane stood there. Her empty hands hovering in the air where her wrist had just been grabbed, her body frozen in a state of shock.

A soft gasp came from the front door. Kassidy hurried inside, her hands flying to her mouth in perfectly timed horror.

"Oh my god! Drucilla!" Kassidy cried out.

Kassidy dropped to her knees beside the bleeding woman. She pressed her soft hands against Drucilla's forehead, whispering sweet, calming words. She looked like an angel of mercy.

Chase did not look at Kassidy. He took the stairs three at a time.

Before Adriane could lower her arms, a large, hard hand grabbed the collar of her sweater.

Chase yanked her forward and slammed her back against the wall. The impact knocked the air out of her lungs.

"How sick are you?" Chase hissed. His voice was absolute ice. "She is an old woman!"

"Chase, no!" Adriane shook her head frantically. Hot tears spilled out of her empty eyes. "I didn't push her! She grabbed my wrist-"

"Shut up." Chase cut her off. His grip tightened, twisting the fabric against her throat. "I saw you with my own eyes."

Adriane reached out, her trembling fingers searching for his suit jacket. She needed to feel him. She needed him to listen.

Her fingers brushed his sleeve.

Chase ripped his arm away as if she were covered in acid. He shoved her backward.

Adriane lost her footing. She crashed hard onto the cold marble floor. Her knees slammed into the stone, sending a sharp spike of pain up her legs.

Chase turned his back on her. He walked down the stairs and scooped his mother into his arms.

"Get the car ready. Now," Chase yelled to the butler.

He stopped at the front door. He did not turn around.

"Pack your trash and get out of my house, Adriane. If you are still here when I get back, I will have the police drag you out."

The heavy doors slammed shut.

Adriane sat alone on the cold floor. The silence of the massive house pressed down on her. She pulled her knees to her chest, buried her face in her arms, and sobbed until her throat bled.