CHAPTER THREE The transformation happened in hours, but it felt like a whole lifetime. As the stylists moved around, rolling, stretching, curling, painting and pluckering, I could feel Ellesmere disappearing by each hand movement. Piece by piece, I was erased. When I stared in the mirror, it felt like looking at my sister through disturbed waters. Wrong. It felt wrong. Arla stepped beside me. And for the first time since we reconnected, she looked…satisfied. “Hello, Arla Holland,” she whispered. Cold licked my spine. “Arla…” “You'll be fine,” she continued. “The staff do not speak unless spoken to. And I'll be in your ear to ease your entry. Mrs Timothy is the housekeeper. Dinner is served by seven, I hope you haven't forgotten the table etiquette lessons at Lois high.”Nervous tension licked my bones. The last time I used cutlery was six years ago. At a dinner date. “I don't miss dinner, even when I'm not hungry. Don't overexplain yourself to the staff. I never explain m
Last Updated : 2026-07-03 Read more