Page 88 of Isabella and the Slipper

Elenore cast a weary glance at Ava. “Because she’ll be locked in the attic.”

“Oh.” Ava nodded. “Yeah.”

Elenore frowned. “This all could have been avoided if you’d have cooperated, you stupid girl. I told you to stay away from the boy.”

“He’s mine,” Delilah said. Chase stared at her in disbelief.

How delusional were these people?

Elenore continued. “But you wouldn’t listen.” She got a hard look in her eyes. “I’ve never understood why you were the lucky one. I should have been the one with the talent. I worked hard all my life for it. But no. I was never good enough. But you? It never was a struggle for you. And I’m not going back to the streets, sweetheart. I’m smarter than that.”

Elenore glared at Isabella, her stare murderous.

What was she talking about? She wasn’t making any sense. She was out of her mind.

Isabella’s gaze connected with his. She made the slightest movement with her head.

What was she trying to tell him? Did she want him to pounce now, or was she shaking her head saying no, don’t move?

“Isabella, pay attention. This is what happens when we don’t do as we’re told. This is all your doing.” Elenore took a step toward the edge of the cliff, forcing him to come with her.

Delilah shrieked. “What are you going to do?”

Elenore met her with a cold gaze. “Chase here is too distraught over his girlfriend running away. He’s going to throw himself off the cliff.”

Chase had no intention of letting that happen. He readied himself and gave Isabella a hard look.

“What?” Delilah’s face drained of color.

“I’m sorry. I know you’re fond of this one. But we can’t have him messing up our plans.”

“But you can’t!” Delilah’s shrill voice filled the air. “I love him!”

Isabella shoved Delilah, and she fell on her butt.

Chase took advantage of the distraction. He grabbed for the gun. Elenore’s grip was strong, and he couldn’t get her fingers off. They struggled, the gun waving up in the air. A loudbangsounded.

“Mother!” Delilah screamed, getting up from the ground. “Don’t you hurt him!”

Chase managed to wrestle the gun away from Elenore. He backed up from her, the gun pointed at her head. “Don’t move.” His was voice surprisingly steady.

Sirens sounded in the distance. Isabella ran to him, and he pulled her close with one arm while keeping the gun trained on Elenore.

“You were going to kill him!” Delilah shrieked. She ran to Elenore and slapped her face. Ava stood by, wringing her hands.

The sirens grew louder.

Chase hugged Isabella close, his heart pounding in his ears.

Two cop cars pulled up, and four police officers got out with their guns drawn. “Put the gun down!” one of them shouted.

Chase lowered the gun and dropped it on the grass, then he held his hands up in the air.

One of them stepped toward Elenore. “Elenore Shephard? You’re under arrest for fraud.” He handcuffed her and read her her rights as the other officers made sure no one else was armed.

“That was fast,” Chase said.

One of the men turned to him. “We’ve been investigating her for months. Things just sort of came to a head today.”

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