"The monster is the woman sitting in your office, drinking your coffee, waiting for you to sign away your birthright."
The words hung in the air, vibrating with a truth Jennifer didn't want to touch.
She stood there, her chest heaving, the fight momentarily draining out of her. She looked at her mother... standing there in silk and arrogance... and felt a wave of confusion crash over her.
"Oh..." Jennifer choked out, her voice trembling. "Then why did you leave? If you knew... why did you abandon us?"
She took a jagged breath, her eyes narrowing as a thought... a weapon... formed in her mind. She decided to twist the knife.
"Or don't tell me..." Jennifer said, a mocking, cruel smile touching her lips. "You weren't strong enough to fight her?"
Vivienne didn't flinch. She didn't rise to the bait.
Instead, she lifted her glass.
