The moment Edris opened the door to the Mcclure Family Suite, a heavy crystal ashtray sailed past her head.
It smashed against the doorframe, showering the carpet with shards of glass.
Edris didn't flinch. She stepped inside and closed the door calmly.
Senator Finnegan Mcclure stood by the fireplace, his face purple with rage. Her mother, Jannette, sat on the velvet sofa, filing her nails, looking bored.
"You have some nerve showing your face," Finnegan roared.
"Nice aim, Father," Edris said dryly, stepping over the glass. "Trying to kill me before the wedding or after?"
"Where were you last night?" Finnegan demanded. "The press was swarming. We had to say you had a migraine. A migraine! On your engagement eve!"
"I was indisposed," Edris said.
"Indisposed? You were missing!" Finnegan slammed his hand on the mantelpiece. "And today? You cancelled the Vogue shoot? Do you know how many favors I pulled to get Luc?"
"Clement wasn't presentable," Edris said.
"He's a Prince! He is always presentable!" Jannette snapped, finally looking up. "You are just being difficult. You've always been jealous of Bailee, and now you're taking it out on Clement because he's nice to her."
"Nice?" Edris raised an eyebrow. "Is that what we're calling it?"
"Don't change the subject," Finnegan barked. "You are jeopardizing this alliance. This family needs the Royal connection."
"The family needs it? Or your reelection campaign needs it?"
Finnegan marched up to her, pointing a finger in her face. "You ungrateful brat. We gave you everything. Education, clothes, status. And this is how you repay us?"
"I am cutting you off," Finnegan announced. "Effective immediately. All credit cards. The trust fund access. Frozen."
Edris felt a cold knot in her stomach, but she forced her face to remain impassive.
"Until you apologize to Clement. And to Bailee."
"Apologize?" Edris laughed incredulously. "For what? For not wanting to be cheated on?"
"There was no cheating!" Jannette stood up. "Bailee is an angel. She would never do that to you. You are paranoid."
The door opened. Bailee slipped in, eyes red and puffy.
"Mommy... Daddy..." she sniffled. "Please don't fight. It's my fault. I shouldn't have asked Clement to take me skiing."
She ran to Jannette, burying her face in her mother's chest. Jannette stroked her hair. "Shh, baby. It's not your fault. Your sister is just... unstable."
Finnegan looked at Edris with pure disdain. "Look at her. She's heartbroken because of you."
"She's heartbroken because she got caught," Edris said.
"That's it," Finnegan said. "Hand over the cards. Now."
Edris looked at her parents. The people who were supposed to protect her. They were looking at her like she was a tumor that needed to be excised.
She reached into her purse.
