Hyde Park was awash in the golden hues of late autumn. The Vance Enterprises Annual Charity Gala for Underprivileged Children had taken over a large section of the park, featuring striped canvas tents, carnival games, and lavish food stalls.

Sharon Vance stood near t

Andrew sat on the edge of his narrow, lumpy mattress in his freezing apartment, his teeth gritted in silent agony. He held a bottle of cheap rubbing alcohol in his left hand, pouring it generously over the deep, jagged laceration on his right shoulder. He hissed as

The executive boardroom on the top floor of the Vance Enterprises skyscraper was deathly silent.

Sharon Vance sat at the head of the long glass table, her eyes scanning the thick stack of printed papers spread out before her. Standing to her right was Arthur, rub