Chapter 3

The opportunity was a crystal music box, the one she kept hidden at the very bottom of her jewelry box.

It was the keepsake Charles had given her after she became pregnant with me, a token of their "love."

I slipped into her room, silent as a shadow.

I dragged a stool over, climbed onto the vanity, and retrieved the music box from its hiding place.

Without hesitation, I raised it high and brought it down with all my might onto the marble floor.

A sharp crack rang out as the music box shattered into a thousand pieces, scattering glass…