y Del

he showered. A notification flashed: "Hope the

od ran

ur first anniversary date. The messages were t

ust to get to know each other," Carol

shing for this. She thinks you're a mu

y about Aubrey. She's just a

aro

f my life, my love, my lab

ne back exactly

throom, I was sitting on the ed

Farley?" I aske

drained

Just a business contact. Mom's try

aw the messages. Your mother

up with Carolina. But it's not what you think! Her family h

d quietly. "What

es. "I don't know. Mom

ke I'm a problem to be solve

ot like

ee years. "You never saw me as a person. I was a resource. Free labor.

s not

hree years of my life. And you wer

eat me like dirt. You let her call me worthless because I wasn't 'l

my coat. "

om, out of the house,

n in the living room. Kieran sto

re a sensible girl. You know how important the family business is. Carolina

ly, it's time for you to make your own a

eran. He stare

ht," I

oth bl

rig

want me to lea

I packed methodically-clothes, books, documents. Jeanie hovered

ere would you even go?

place to go? Is that what you told you

d showed her a photo. My

th money I saved. Every dollar yo

mouth f

assed the exam six months ago. I'm a certified public accountan

ward, his face pal

meals, cleaning your house, managing your finances. Three years of be

up my s

never was. And no

front door and