Gwen stared at her parents sprawled on the ground, barely clinging to life. Her whole body shook like a leaf in a storm.
Tears and snot streamed down her face as she babbled brokenly. "Silas, I'm sorry... please, let me go..."
Silas said nothing. He merely lifted his chin.
The bodyguards seized her parents and dragged them away. Gwen threw herself forward like a madwoman, only to be kicked square in the chest by one of the guards.
"Ah—!" She clutched her chest, coughing up blood, her eyes unfocused and scattered. "You can't do this! I'm the young lady of the Lowell family..."
"Take her down." Silas's voice held not a trace of warmth. "Start with the face-slapping."
Two towering bodyguards stepped forward and seized Gwen, one on each side.
Slap!
A sharp, crisp sound rang out. Gwen's
