Chapter 8

Annabella Barrett stormed out of the mansion's double doors. She hiked up the heavy skirt of her silver evening gown, her high heels sinking into the grass as she marched toward the chaos.

Right behind her came Alden Barrett, his face purple with rage, and Kiera Barrett, the eldest daughter, maintaining her mask of delicate concern.

Annabella's eyes locked onto the black coffins. She saw Aspen's red dress sticking out of the half-closed lid. She saw the bodyguards cowering in the distance.

Blood rushed to Annabella's head. Her carefully maintained elegant facade shattered.

"You ungrateful little bitch!" Annabella shrieked, pointing a manicured finger at Evelina. "How dare you bring this filth into my home!"

Annabella closed the distance. Blinded by fury, she raised her hand high, aiming a vicious slap at Evelina's face.

Evelina's eyes went dead. She did not dodge. She shot her hand forward and clamped her fingers around Annabella's wrist. The grip was brutal, digging into the soft flesh.

Annabella gasped in pain, her face twisting into an ugly grimace. She tried to yank her arm back, but Evelina held her fast.

Evelina pulled Annabella close. She leaned in until her lips were inches from Annabella's ear.

"Do not think I don't know how my mother really died," Evelina whispered. Her voice was a venomous hiss.

Annabella's pupils dilated in absolute terror. The color vanished from her face. Her struggles stopped instantly, her body freezing in shock.

Evelina used that second of paralysis. She stepped forward and slammed her shoulder hard into Annabella's chest.

Annabella lost her balance. She stumbled backward, her high heels twisting in the soft dirt.

Evelina swept her leg out, kicking the back of Annabella's knee.

Annabella screamed as her legs gave out. She fell backward, her arms flailing wildly. With a heavy thud, she crashed perfectly into the second open black coffin beside Aspen.

The crowd gasped. The matriarch of the Barrett family, thrown into a coffin like a piece of trash.

Alden lost his mind. He charged forward, stopping just out of Evelina's reach.

"Evelina!" Alden roared, spit flying from his lips. "You are a lunatic! You have disgraced this family for the last time!"

Evelina turned to face her father. A sneer curled her lips.

"You threw your own daughter out to steal my mother's money," Evelina spat back. "Where was your concern for the family's grace then?"

Alden's face turned from purple to a sickly gray. His hands shook with impotent rage.

Kiera stepped forward. She placed a hand on her chest, her eyes wide and pleading.

"Evelina, please," Kiera said, her voice dripping with fake sorrow. "Violence is not the answer. You are ruining a beautiful charity event. We can talk about this."

Evelina glared at Kiera. "Save the white lotus act for your rich friends, Kiera. I know exactly what you are."

Inside the coffin, Annabella scrambled to sit up. Her hair was a mess. She dug frantically into her silver clutch and pulled out her phone.

Her fingers trembled as she dialed 911.

"Police! I need police at the Barrett estate immediately!" Annabella screamed into the phone. "There is a deranged woman here! She is trying to murder my family! Bring guns!"

Annabella dropped the phone and glared at Evelina with pure hatred. "You are going to rot in a cell for the rest of your life."

Alden sneered, regaining some of his arrogant posture. "No one can save you now. You are going to federal prison."

The guests murmured, shaking their heads. Evelina had gone too far. The police would end this.

Evelina did not run. She turned her back on her screaming family. She walked casually over to a long catering table draped in white linen.

She picked up a crystal flute and a bottle of unopened champagne. She popped the cork, poured herself a glass, and took a slow sip.