Page 3 of Worship

“I have news,” she announces after the waiter serves us plates of grass. I hadn’t noticed him come over to take our orders.

“Oh?” Gabriella’s eyebrows rise in wonder.

“Yes, there is a reason I wanted to meet with you both. You’ll never believe it, but Scott proposed!” Lifting her hand, she shows off a massive rock sparkling on her finger, something I realize she hid well by keeping her hand under the table.

“Oh! Elise!” Gabriella grabs her hand to take a closer look. “I never thought he’d do it. Congratulations!”

“Neither did I. But Scottfinallydid in front of his family after Sunday dinner. He was such a sweetheart—got down on one knee and said how much he can’t wait to spend the rest of his life with me.”

“What a gentleman. I’m delighted for you. A lovely bit of news,” Gabriella gushes. “Does your father know?”

“He does, of course, since Scott asked his permission. Daddy was going to tell you yesterday, but I wanted to tell you in person myself. We want it in the summertime and are already searching for a venue. We could use your expertise.”

“Of course.” Gabriella places her hand on her chest, flattered that she’s being asked. “I would be honored. And I believe I have the perfect place in mind.”

Abandoning the rabbit food, I make my way out onto the veranda that’s not far from our table. They don’t notice I’ve left, too busy discussing wedding plans with thefantasticScott Link.

Leaning against the railing, I breathe in the crisp, autumn air. It’s then that a single golden leaf blows off a tree nearby and dances in the air, eventually landing beside me. Picking it up, I observe its undamaged exterior. Beautiful. Perfect.

It shouldn’t have left the tree.

Crumbling it in my hand, it breaks into tiny pieces, and when I open my palm, the wind carries it away. Forever broken. Because nothing can stay whole in this city. I know that better than anyone.

Chapter Two

After brunch, Gabriella calls her driver to pick me up. She has an appointment to get her monthly dose of Botox, and I’m glad because it means I won’t have to see her for the duration of my visit.

Now, her home isn’t what we used to live in—a run-down, two-bedroom shithole situated in Horn Hill. This posh pad is far from what Gabriella used to have.

Used tobe.

When I was younger, I don’t recall a time when she wasn’t obsessed over mansions, the rich, and their extraordinary lives. She often had arguments with Dad—never happy with what she had. That he couldn’t provide everything, she desired and deserved with his menial factory job.

After a while, he stopped listening, turning to alcohol to dull the ache. Then my sister, Nicole, stopped listening too, bored by her antics. That was when she enlisted me to be her new audience, and I was more than happy to be.

I’d sit for hours while she talked about her dreams and hopes of one day being proud of her achievements. It’s funny that I once idolized her. Whenever she described the life we were going to have when we moved away from Horn Hill, I’d get excited. Like her, I didn’t want to be stuck in Horn Hill—a scary place where all society’s rejects breed. Where crime is rife, and the death rate is high.

But all those hopes and dreams were demolished the day she got a job at an insurance company as Mr. Lawrence Lowden’spersonalsecretary. With Dad guzzling every drop of money he earned, desperation pushed Gabriella to apply to every job in theFair Haven Independentjust to keep food on the table. She wasn’t expecting an interview when she applied for the position, but it surprised us when the call came.

She left school when she was fifteen and had no qualifications. At least, none to be a secretary. However, with his wife on her deathbed, Lawrence hired my mother because his dick got hard when he laid eyes on her.

She was even more stunning back then, before the enhancements and wealth. A sensual body Dad used to adore more than his nightly bottle of whiskey. Natural womanly curves and sultry brown eyes no man could ever look away from.

And Lawrence certainly didn’t.

Gabriella didn’t teach me many things, but there is one lesson I will never forget. That there is nothing, anyone wouldn’t do for money. Even if it means destroying the people you love.

A Mediterranean-style stucco with two upstairs balconies stands before me. A home with too many rooms and breaching security guidelines with its large open windows, showcasing smooth marble floors, and modern furniture inside. A house that matches those mansions she used to drool over.

Letting myself in, I go upstairs to Elise’s old bedroom. I know by the silence that greets me that I’m the only one here, except the security guard and housemaid, who seldom show their faces.

The only luxury of staying the night in this ridiculous place is swimming in the indoor pool. With that in mind, I pull out one of Elise’s old bathing suits from the wardrobe. A pink one that has seen better days.

Shrugging off my hoodie and tossing it on the floor, I sit on the bed and undo the laces on my sneakers. As I reach to pull them off, my elbow slams against something hard behind me.

When I glance over my shoulder, my blood runs cold when my eyes land on a black object. A box, small enough for me not to have noticed on my way in, sits right there. Yet Ishouldhave seen it, as it’s not just any ordinary box.

It’s a coffin. My baby’s coffin sits upon the once-white sheets, now dirtied from freshlydisturbedsoil.

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