I screamed, shoving Herbert aside to snatch the photo. My eyes blazed with the urge to tear Lori apart.

"This is your idea of a proper funeral?" I demanded.

Herbert stayed silent, stepping protectively in front of Lori. She peeked out, slinging her arms over his shoulder, her eyes glinting with mockery.

"You're losing it?" she taunted. "This is a graveside bash, adding some life to the farewell. Otherwise, it's all doom and gloom. I'm not letting you and your sister tank my best friend's big day."

Chloe nodded, her nose in the air. "Gail brought this on herself. You expect us to cry over her? This party is a blast. She'd be drooling over the shirtless guys, even as a ghost."

I ground my teeth, glaring at Herbert. I had been an idiot to believe his promises.

"Last chance, Herbert!" I warned. "Keep shielding Lori, and we're not just done. I'll burn your world to ashes!"

He pressed his lips into a thin line, saying nothing. Her expression darkening, Lori lunged forward and slapped herself. "Mona, I'm sorry. I didn't know you'd go nuts like this, but for Herbert's happiness, I'd take a bullet."

She dropped to her knees, smashing her forehead against Gail's photo frame until blood streamed down her face. Herbert's jaw tightened, and he yanked her into his arms.

"I choose Lori. Happy now?" he snapped at me. "She's just had my back. You can't stand that because she is my best friend?"

He ripped off his belt, bound my knees, and forced me to kneel before Gail's photo. "If you're so set on mourning your sister, stay there and cry!"

Pain seared as the belt bit into my skin.

He led her upstairs and fussed over her wounds, a flock of private doctors buzzing around. She chuckled, "Relax, I'm a tough chick, not some delicate princess."

Then she winced, burrowing into his chest like a wounded bird. His eyes held a warmth I'd never felt from him.

This man, who flinched at a kiss, pressed his lips gently near her wound. "Just like when we were kids, one kiss, and it's all better."

My heart twisted, but I forced the pain down. Then the housekeeper who'd helped me before appeared, her face tight with worry.

She leaned close, whispering, "Miss Woodard, I've got proof of what they did to Gail. Meet me in the garden tonight. Don't let anyone see you."

That night, Lori and Herbert were holed up watching some private movie. Herbert untied my belt, his tone casual. "Lori has always been one of the boys, loving this stuff. I'm just hanging with her. Don't read into it."

I bit my tongue as he locked me back in the room.

When the villa quieted, I pried open the window and leapt from the second story, twisting my ankle on impact. Ignoring the pain, I sprinted to the garden and grabbed the phone the housekeeper had hidden.

Floodlights suddenly blazed, pinning me in their glare. The housekeeper dropped to her knees, her voice shrill. "Miss Reilly didn't touch your sister. You'll ruin her if you do this!"

Herbert stormed over, his face carved from granite, and slapped me across the face.

Behind him, Chloe clung to a disheveled Lori, glaring at me. "If the housekeeper hadn't tipped us off, we'd never have known you were sneaking out. Herbert, make her pay for hurting Lori!"

Herbert's fingers clamped around my throat, squeezing until black spots danced in my vision. "All this over some stupid wedding prank? You tried to frame Lori for an assault in the theater? Gail chased money and got burned. How is it Lori's fault? If I hadn't been there, she'd be ruined, and I'd despise you forever."

I forced a mocking laugh. "What, she's playing the victim now? Didn't she say assault is no big deal? Gail's life meant nothing, but Lori's got you all torn up?"

His grip tightened, and my face contorted in agony. "Gail wasn't even your real sister. Without her weighing you down, you're free. Marry me, and you'll have the life you always wanted."

My eyes blazed with tears, stunning him.

I shoved him off and slapped him hard. "I raised Gail like my own. Blood or not, she was my heart. Yeah, I'm tired of scraping by, but she was never a burden!"

My chest ached as if pierced by a blade. If I hadn't given in to Gail's pleas to stay, she might still be alive, shining as the Woodard family's star.

Herbert's fists clenched, his gaze lingering on the bruises on my neck. A flicker of guilt crossed his eyes, but Lori grabbed his hand, saying, "Your fiancée's spoiled rotten. Still going to coddle her? She's got you whipped."

His face hardened at her words. Lori smirked, her voice syrupy as she leaned in. "You're such a hopeless romantic. When a girl's pissed, you don't grovel. Let me handle her; I know women best."

She swung his hand playfully. "Worried I'll get hurt? Then ditch this marriage."

He pulled his hand free, and her eyes flickered.

She stomped toward me and hissed, "You know, when I pushed Gail off that balcony, her eyes burned with the same hatred you've got. You really think she jumped? It was supposed to be you they attacked, but she overheard my plan."

I lunged, my hands closing around her throat, squeezing with every ounce of rage. Taking her chance, she shoved a knife into my hand and screamed, "Herbert, she's got a knife!"

He charged, his boot slamming into my side. "You're out of your mind! Lori is trying to make peace, and you're hurting her?"

"If she gets hurt, I'll make you pay!" Herbert bellowed.

I wiped blood from my lips, my stare icy. "Try it! Lock me away forever! The second I'm out, I'll drag Lori, you, and everyone who touched Gail to justice!"

He paused, my fury alien to him. Lori clung to his sleeve, sobbing, "The housekeeper said she had already called the police. They're coming. We can't let her keep this up. Why not..."

She pointed at the men who meant to "attack" her. "She's so high and mighty. Ruin her, and she'll be too ashamed to talk."

My heart raced at her words, but before I could speak, the housekeeper pinned me to the ground, her hand clamping my mouth. Herbert shook his head, rejecting the idea.

Lori bit her lip, tears flowing harder. "Fine, let me rot in jail. I'll throw myself off this roof right now. It's just a few photos. Think I'd let you get played like that?"

"Alright," Herbert relented, grabbing her hand.

Lori's tears vanished, a smug glint in her eyes. Chloe stepped up, eager to avenge Lori, slipping something into a glass of water and shoving me into a room.

Despair swallowed me as a group of men tore my wedding dress to shreds. The chaos grew louder by the second.

Outside, Herbert sat on the couch, closing his eyes and clenching his fists. When a soft hand grazed his, he snapped his eyes open to find Lori straddling him in lingerie, her body pressed against his.

"You're stuck on Mona because you've never had a real woman," she purred. "Let me show you what you're missing, big guy."

She kissed his stiff lips, her hands roaming. Herbert moved to push her off but paused when his fingers touched her waist. He pulled her closer, their kiss deepening into something hungry, shattered only by a rapid knock on the door.

Lori tumbled off, her eyes blazing with frustration. She threw on her clothes and scrambled after Herbert as he flung open the door, stopping dead.

There I stood, wrapped in a stranger's coat. The men who'd attacked me knelt, battered and bruised, begging for mercy.

Before Herbert could speak, the front doors were booted open with a thunderous crash. The housekeeper was thrown inside, crawling to Herbert's feet. "Sir, the estate is surrounded by a fleet of supercars."

John Woodard, clad in a sharp suit, stood in the doorway, his presence a storm ready to break. "Where is Mona?"

Lori sneered, sizing him up. "Here to save your little darling? Too late. She's busy getting frisky with some random guys."

John narrowed his eyes and, seeing me in his assistant's arms, slammed his cane down. The sound echoed like a gunshot.

A bodyguard strode forward and slapped Lori hard. "Show your respect to the heiress of the Woodard empire!"