ocelyn drew a slow breath, her lips curling into a cruel smile. “Amber” she purred, b“/bbyou’ll /balways be my good girl, won’t you?”

Amber nodded quickly, her eyes downcast. A wicked thought shed through Jocelyn’s mind. Sienna, let’s wait and bsee/b:

The mere thought of Sienna set jealous fire raging through Jocelyn’s veins. Damn you, Sienna. You should’ve stayed dead. Her pretty face contorted with the ugly emotion. b“/bAmber,” she said icily, b“/bget me a chocte cake from East Street Now”

Amber’s face lit up. 71 go right now,” she chirped. That bright smile was too much. Jocelyn forced a pleasant expression while seething inside.

Smack!

Jocelyn’s palm cracked across Amber’s cheek, sending her sprawling. Before Amber could gasp, Jocelyn seized her by the hair and hauled Her uprightb, /bbsnarling/b. “How many times must I tell you? No smiling, What kind of girl grins like an idiot? Looking for male attention?”

Trembling violently, Amber crumpled into a tight ball. “Sorry, Jocelyn. No more smiling, I swear. Please stop she begged, arms raised to shield her face.

Jocelyn released her, bdark /bsatisfaction surging through her. With deliberate slowness, she kneh and stroked Amber’s reddened check, only to dig her nails in when Amber whimpered.

“Darling. I hate hurting you,” Jocelyn crooned. “But those filthy men will think you’re easy prey if you keep bsmiling/b. They’ll take advantage. I’m only protecting you.” She crushed Amber in a smothering hug, whispering wetly bnear /bher ear, “You know I love you best, don’t you”

Amber sniffled. “You’re right, Jocelyn. Everything you do is for my good. I’ll obey. No more smiles. Her voice cracked like stepped–on twigs. “Good girl” Jocelyn held out a crumpled bill. “Take this and buy my cake. Keep the change for water if you’re thirsty”

Thank you, Jocelyn. Il be back soon” Amber hastily wiped her tears and clutched the money. As Amber scampered off gratefully, Jocelyn’s bgaze /bslid to the clock Eleven o’clock Run along, littlemb

Amber hurried down the shadowy alley, the crumpled bill clutched in her sweary hand. Chocte cake. Keep going. One hour left. Gotta get it for

Then bout /bof nowhere, several thugs appeared, surrounding her with leering grins Amber stumbled back in terror. She needed to call the police, but Jocelyn had taken her phone long bago/bb, /biming it bwould /bdistract her from her studies.

“Hey sweetheart,” the first thing crooned, blocking her path, “why rush? Let us walk you home. We’ll keep byou /breal safe.

“What’s wrong? Scared?” Another voice rasped from behind, “Don’t worry, we’ll y nice. Just tell us where you live.”

Their voices oozed like sludge from a dumpeer. When Amber turned to nuda beefy arm blocked her way. “Running baway/b? That’s rude, the lead man said, spreading his arms. “Kids shouldn’t walk alone. Let us take you home.”

When the man moved to grab her, Amber screamed at the top of her lungs, “Stay back! I call the police! My sister will hear about this”

“Listen up! She’s got a sister, the man sneered to his buddies. “Why don’t you call her over? More girls, more fun.” He took another step toward

Amber

“Get away!” Amber screamedb, /bstumbling backward bas /bher hands flew up in defense. Her heart pounded so hard she could barely breathe. “Help me! Somebody! Her voice cracked with terror bas /bshe frantically scanned the empty street,

“Keep screaming” the man chuckled darkly. “Nobodyes here thiste. Desperate, Amber clenched the money in her fist, still thinking about Joerlyn’s chocte cake.

“Bullying girls when I’m around? How dare your A cool bvoice /bcut through the air. The thugs spun toward the sound. There stood another girl in a ck skim and a white jacket, Her sweet face was ba /bstark contrast to the ice in her re.

“Hey look, another girl” But a sickening bcrack /bcut off the thug’s words as bhis /bwrist bent the wrong way. Before his buddies could blink, the girl became a whirlwind of violence–elbows smashing noses, bknees /bcrunching into ribs, feet sweeping blegs/b.

The first thug hit the ground with a third, bowling in pain. The ousers stumbled over each other in their panic to escape, dark stains spreading down their pants.

b“/bbPathetic/b, Reno sneered at the fleeing thugs, then turned to Amber with sudden gentlenessb, /boffering ba /blollipop. “Here, sweethean. Sugar helps after

Amber shook her head blike /bba /braided rabbit, arus locked around herself. Before Reno could even say “hospital“, Amber took off like a shot. Staring bat /bbher /bown reflection in a car window, Reno frowned. “Do I really look that scary!

420 PM

At the police station. Mason nkly took back his things, bdazed /bby his luck. His three aplices faced harsher fates. Ron and Lily were sentenced to prison, while Lily’s confesion painted Chloe bas /ban innocent victim. letting her walk away,

As Chloe turned to leave, Lily caught her sleeve. “Take good care of my kids,” she whispered urgently. They’re all I’ve got Chloe gave a solemn

Finally free. Chloe nearly cried with relief. The moment she saw Mason, she flung herself bat /bhim. “Masonb, /bI’ve missed you so much,” her words. tumbled out bin /bba /brush. This was all Lily and Ron’s doing. You know I was fooled too, right? Let’s go say sorry to Vivian together. She’ll forgive us,”

Mason shoved her away, wiping his sleeves as if she were diseased. “bGet /blost, har. If I see you bagain/b, don’t say I didn’t warn you” His eyes burned with barely contained rage.

Her mind nk and heart skipping ba /bbeat, Chloe desperately grabbed Mason’s hand: “Mason, I’m not lying to you,” she pleaded. “Don’t believe i nonsense. I truly love you”

“Get lost,” he snarled, lips twisting in a bitterugh. “bI /bwas a damn bidiot /bto ever believe you had a kind bone in your body.” His fingers curled into fists as the cold bchuckle /bdied in his throat.

“Don’t say that” Chloe cried. “I love you so bmuch/bb./bb” /bBut Mason ignored her, striding toward Junior Quinn Group with rage boiling in his veins. He wanted to ask Sophie why it took bher /bso long to get him out.

At thepany entrance, the guard blocked Mason’s way. Mason’s face flushed red with rage. “Open your damn eyes! Don’t you know who I am?” His this trembled at his sides as veins throbbed at his temples.

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