As I stepped into the hallway, an overpowering cloud of perfume hit me.

Zoe stood at my door, posing like she owned the place. A smirk adorned her face.

"What are you doing here?" I said coldly.

"Just checking on you," she taunted. "Seeing how the abandoned wife is holding up."

She eyed my drenched, miserable state and laughed. "Pathetic. Lost your job, right? Rick says he'll make sure you can't survive in Sylirend—that you'll come crawling back, begging."

"Let him wait." I brushed past her and unlocked the door.

"Big talk." She followed me inside, sauntered over to the framed portrait of Helen, and picked it up. "Your mom would be so disappointed in how ungrateful you are."

"Put it down!" I barked.

"Touchy, are we?" She tossed it lightly in her hands. "What if I accidentally drop it?"

"I said put it down!" I repeated, lunging to grab it.

She shrieked theatrically and let go. The frame hit the floor and shattered, glass splintering across Helen's smiling face.

Rage surged through me, hotter than anything I'd ever felt. I seized Zoe by the hair and slammed her to the floor.

She screamed and clawed at my arms, leaving bloody scratches. I felt nothing except white-hot fury. That was for crossing the line and defiling the memory of my late mother.

I yanked her hair and slapped her again and again. "This is for touching that photo!"

Powerless, she could only wail, "You're crazy! Mr. Holden! Help!"

The door flew open, and Rick rushed in, his eyes widening at the scene. "Eleanor! Stop!"

He stormed over and yanked me off her. I stumbled backward, slamming into the wall. A sharp pain instantly exploded on my back.

He helped her to her feet, noticing her swollen face and messy hair. His eyes narrowed, and he snarled at me, "Are you out of your mind?"

He advanced on me, looking fiercer than ever. "How dare you touch her?"

The way he protected Zoe made me laugh. "She smashed my mother's photo."

He paused, glanced at the broken frame, then back at Zoe's tearful face. She quickly defended herself. "It was an accident. She lunged at me, and I couldn't hold on."

Instead of pursuing it, Rick frowned and said, "Even so, you can't attack people. Apologize to her."

I couldn't believe my ears. He wanted me to apologize to someone who had just desecrated my mother's memory?

"Do it!" he repeated, his tone brooking no argument.

I held his gaze. "And if I don't?"

"Then I'll make you." He pulled out his phone and dialed a number. "Mr. William? I'm at a friend's place, and I just found some illegal substances."

He was setting me up. I snapped, "You're vile!"

"You forced my hand." He ended the call and looked at me. "The police will be here soon. When they arrive, you can guess what happens next."

Zoe stopped crying and smirked triumphantly. "You can't beat Mr. Holden. Bow to me and beg nicely. Maybe he'll soften and let you off."

I looked at that familiar face and felt only cold emptiness. Now he seemed like a total stranger. I had been in love with him for three years, and now he was reveling in his twisted game, trying to send me to prison for another woman.

Sirens wailed in the distance, and Rick gave a victorious grin. "Time is running out, Eleanor."