The sound of bells clinking together came from the bathroom again.
I couldn't stop shaking. That was the exact sound of the bells on my grandmother's heirloom locket.
A memory flashed through my mind: the day Stephanie first came to the house.
She had spotted the locket around my neck and asked me for it.
I refused. Dominic called me petty.
He knew exactly what that locket meant to me, and he still stole it to make Stephanie happy.
Every last trace of warmth drained from my heart. I understood now that there was no place left for me in Dominic's world.
The noises from the bathroom went on for a long time.
The door creaked open. I turned toward the sound.
Everything was still pitch black, but I could feel the wave of heat rolling toward me.
Dominic carried her out in a hurry, not forgetting to feed me an excuse on his way past.
"Working late tonight. Don't wait up. Get some sleep."
I stared coldly toward the sound of his voice.
"Dominic, my heirloom locket is missing."
His reply was clipped with impatience. "I really do have something urgent. I'll help you look for it when I have time."
The door slammed. Stephanie's triumphant laughter echoed down the hallway.