Cecilia was captivated by the pearl necklace that once belonged to her mother, leaving her defenseless for a moment.
By the time she realized something was wrong, it was already too late.
Having survived three years in prison, Cecilia's body reacted faster than her mind. She instinctively stepped back, raising her arm across her chest.
"Hiss—"
But in a flash, a searing, blazing pain shot through her arm. Scalding hot water ate into her delicate skin, leaving her jade-white arm swollen and red beyond recognition!
She was lucky—at least a little. Today Cecilia wore a long-sleeved dress; though it offered little protection, it still absorbed some of the damage.
Some hot water splattered elsewhere, hitting Cecilia's flawless face, but that was a far cry from the burn on her arm.
...
Boiling water! It was actually boiling water!
Cecilia sucked in a cold breath. The sharp pain nearly forced a scream out of her, but she gritted her teeth and held it in.
