hea

otionless drone. "Fine," I said, the word a rasp i

iosity. Ashli, still in the background, nursing the

?" Hudson asked

oper burial. A gravestone. With her name, Lily, and mine. And her father's." I let the words hang in the air, a sile

ppeared, replaced by his usual self-serving logic. "Althea, I... I understand. I truly do. But it's been a difficult time.

erupted from the hallway outside. It sounded like a body hitt

es futilely trying to restrain her. Her arm was bleeding, a nasty scrape from the fall. "Le

nd bruised, clearly having just struck Ashli. He pointed a trembling finger at her. "Get out!" he roared, his voice

lessly back into the bassinet. His eyes, wide with a familiar, selfish fear, darted between his furious grandfather and the screaming Ashli. He didn't even glance at the

lding her from Barrett's wrath. "

loved her. He always had. All his grand pronouncements of love for me, his promises of lo

y idea," she choked out, her voice raspy, yet strangely defiant. "The naming. To honor Lily. To bring

mance. A truly

in his stern features. He saw the clipboard still clutched in my hand, the untouched birth certificate. He saw the faint

erous now. "Look at what you've done! Are you

before he could respond, Ashli let out a piercing shriek and

, ignoring his grandfather's furious glare. "Ashli! Ashli, what's wrong?" He turne

roared, stepping forward to block his path. "Are