Chapter 5

Calista burst through the heavy brass doors of the women's powder room.

She rushed to the marble sink and gripped the edges with both hands. She was gasping for air as if she had been drowning.

She looked up at the massive mirror. Her face was chalk-white. Her eyes were bloodshot.

She reached out and violently pushed the handle of the faucet.

Freezing cold water blasted into the basin. She shoved her hands under the stream, letting the icy water numb her shaking fingers. She tried to wash away the burning humiliation.

The heavy brass door behind her groaned open.

The sharp, rhythmic click of stiletto heels echoed off the marble walls.

Calista looked up into the mirror. Kassandra was walking toward her.

The sweet, innocent mask was completely gone. Kassandra's face was twisted with pure malice.

Kassandra stopped next to her. She reached into the gold-plated dispenser and pulled out a paper towel. She patted her hands dry with slow, deliberate movements.

"Look at you," Kassandra sneered at the mirror. "You look like a stray dog begging for scraps."

Kassandra leaned in closer.

"Jett spent four hours with me last night picking out this diamond," Kassandra whispered. "He doesn't care if you live or die."

Calista turned off the water. She stood up straight and turned to face the woman who had stolen her parents and her husband.

"You can put on whatever show you want," Calista said, her voice dropping to a freezing whisper. "But on paper, I am still Mrs. Holder."

Kassandra's eye twitched. Then she laughed. A high, grating sound.

"That piece of paper is going to be garbage very soon," Kassandra mocked.

Calista felt a surge of reckless anger. She raised her hand and roughly pushed aside the thick hair resting against her neck.

Under the bright vanity lights, four dark purple bite marks and harsh bruises stood out starkly against her pale skin.

"He wasn't so gentle in my bed last night," Calista said.

Kassandra's eyes locked onto the bruises. Her pupils shrank to pinpricks.

The smugness shattered. Pure, murderous jealousy exploded in Kassandra's eyes.

She let out a furious hiss and lunged forward. She raised her hand high, aiming a vicious slap right at Calista's face.

Calista saw it coming. She threw her arm up and caught Kassandra's wrist mid-air.

They locked together in front of the sinks. Kassandra struggled wildly, her breath coming in harsh pants.

Suddenly, Kassandra's eyes darted past Calista's shoulder. She looked toward the slightly open brass door.

Heavy footsteps and the sound of Susan Mckee's voice drifted down the hallway.

Kassandra stopped struggling. A terrifying, psychotic smile stretched across her face.

She violently yanked her wrist out of Calista's grip.

Without a second of hesitation, Kassandra swung her own hand back and slapped herself across the right cheek with terrifying force.

The sound was like a gunshot in the tiled room.

Her cheek instantly swelled. A drop of blood burst from the corner of her lip.

Calista froze in absolute shock.

Kassandra threw her body backward. She slammed onto the hard marble floor. The impact made a sickening thud.

Kassandra grabbed her own hair, ripping the perfect curls apart. She opened her mouth and let out a blood-curdling, terrified scream.

The brass door was kicked open with brutal force.