Evelyn had been anxious since that night at the country club. Assistant Director Curtis’s behavior had been bizarre; he’d swung from praising her to slapping her, from expressing interest in Grace to violently rejecting her sister. A few days after he disappeared from the set, his older brother, the Head Director, was also replaced. The film crew couldn't explain the sudden changes, but Evelyn suspected Curtis was involved, and that Grace was somehow at the center of it.

Her anxieties intensified when she learned Curtis had been hospitalized, his right hand—the hand that had struck Grace—permanently damaged. "What the hell is going on?" she whispered, panicking. Curtis's attitude toward Grace had drastically shifted after that fateful phone call. Was it all a coincidence, or did Grace have powerful connections? Yet, if she had such influence, why was she still sweeping streets?

Evelyn confided in her parents. When her father learned she'd sent Grace to drink with an older man, he glared at her. "How could you?" he exploded.

"It was just drinks," her mother interrupted, "and Evelyn did it for the family. Only if Evelyn becomes a star will we have a good future. Otherwise, we'll rely on your jailed eldest daughter?"

Her father's face fell, but he remained silent. He'd never been fond of Grace, and Evelyn knew he understood she'd essentially set her sister up for sexual assault. If pressed, she'd deny it, claiming it was just drinks. He couldn't prove otherwise, and she’d likely resort to emotional manipulation.

"Dad, could Grace have found someone to help her? Why else would Curtis have backed down that night and ended up in the hospital?" Evelyn asked.

Her mother touched her father's arm. "You're her father. Ask her. If she has a backer, she should tell us. We don't want her—or us—dragged down again. Prison attracts unsavory characters. Who knows who she met there?"

Evelyn gasped. "Father! What if they come after us? What if her criminal friends damage our reputation further? You were so respected before Grace killed that woman and disgraced us!"

Her father slammed his fist on the table. "If she implicates the family again, I'll break her legs myself!"

Later, while Grace prepared dinner, her father, stepmother, and Evelyn stormed into her apartment. Her father demanded, "Did you meet shady people in prison? If you do anything to affect our family, I won't go easy on you!"

"What have I done?" Grace asked coldly.

"Did you hurt Assistant Director Curtis? He only asked you for a drink! Are you so vicious? Did you forget everything in prison? Do you think you can do whatever you want now?" he raged.

Grace smirked. "Karma's a bitch. He deserved it. And if 'drinking together' is fine, then send your precious Evelyn. What did she scheme against me for?"

"You owe her! If it weren't for you…"

"If it weren't for me, would she even be in the film?" Grace retorted. "I owe her nothing!"

"Sister, I've never blamed you," Evelyn whined.

"So noble," Grace said sarcastically.

The audacity of them trying to blame her for her sister’s failings infuriated her. Her stepmother tried to soothe Evelyn, then turned to Grace with disapproval. "Grace, don't blame your sister. Your father just wants you to stay out of trouble. If you go back to jail, what will happen to our reputation?"

"Go to Curtis and apologize," her father ordered. "Don't implicate Evelyn. If you ruin her future, you'll regret it!"

Grace found this ludicrous. Did they truly believe they could control her? Their bias was blinding them. "I won't apologize. Leave. You're not welcome."

Her father's face flushed. "Who do you think you are?" He raised his hand to strike her. Grace flinched, twisting her ankle. But before his hand could land, Jason, Grace's boyfriend, blocked the blow.

"Jay!" Grace exclaimed, surprised by his early arrival.

Jason coldly glared at the intruders. "Get out!"

"Who are you to stop me?" her father shouted, his hand throbbing.

Jason released his grip, throwing her father out. Evelyn and her stepmother rushed to his aid.

"Why did you let a stranger treat your father like that?" her stepmother shrieked.

"Who is he?" her father sputtered. "Grace, you found a thug right after jail…"

His words were cut short by Jason's low growl, the menace unmistakable. He would fight. He would kill.

Grace pulled Jason inside and slammed the door.