As soon as Graeme ordered the police to be called, Annette’s carefully constructed composure shattered completely. Her cold demeanor cracked like thin ice under pressure, revealing the panicked woman beneath.
The perfect mask of cold indifference she had worn all evening slipped away, leaving raw terror in its place. Her pupils dilated, her breath coming in short, panicked gasps as she realized the game was truly over.
“I’m not going to the police station!” Annette’s voice trembled as she grabbed her mother’s arm with white-knuckled desperation.
Macy watched dispassionately as Annette begged her mother to help her. “Mother, do something!” The plea was stripped of all its usual arrogance, reduced to the frightened whimper of a child caught in wrongdoing.
Like a lioness protecting her
