Meredith.
I stopped, my stomach twisting. Slowly, I turned to see my older brother, Gary. It seemed like he had followed me out of the hall.
Gary strode toward me, his face set in a sneer. His eyes flickered briefly to Madame Beatrice, but then he focused entirely on me.
"I need a moment with my sister," he said.
I understood the threat beneath his words, and immediately, I glanced at Madame Beatrice and gave her a small nod. "It's alright. I will speak with him."
She hesitated, her gaze shifting between us. "I will give you a moment then," she said to me before finally walking ahead.
The moment she turned the corner, Gary grabbed me. His fingers wrapped around my throat, and he shoved me against the cold stone wall.
I gasped in pain as my hands instinctively rose to pry his fingers away, but I didn't struggle. Not yet.
My cloud veil shifted slightly but didn't fall.
Gary's breath was hot against my cheek. "You good-for-nothing bitch!"
