ept across the manicured

he'd known since he was a kid-and the iron gates swung open. He drove straight up the ci

ed Izzy. She was still half-asleep, her face flushed from the warmth of the truck. He scooped he

ed, and shoved the heavy wooden door inward. It flew open, slamming again

onto the pristine marble floor. He walked straight into

sitting on the velvet sofa, gently running a brush through Katelynn's hair. Katelynn was wearing

the mantle, sipping fro

loshed over the rim, burning his hand. He spun ar

irty bundle in Bryan's arms. His face

of the room and set Izzy

round the room, at the sparkling chandelier and the expensive art on

p and down, her nose wrinkling. She looked at Izzy the wa

didn't kneel down. She didn't offer a hug. She just looked down at Izzy, her eyes nar

ng with disgust. "She's filthy. And those clothes...

her toes, her voice a tiny,

g his cup down with a clatter. "She's ruining the ev

ng sound. "Disruption? You left your own daughter standing in the cold at

te hissed, glanc

ping came from the ha

as bent with age, his white hair thinning. He leaned heavily on a wooden cane, h

carrying the weight of absolute

erate. He crossed the room, ignoring Conra

es filled with a deep, aching sorrow. He reached out a t

toward her. A stranger's

scrambled backward, her he

cup, part of an antique tea service that had belonged to Kat

rp, piercing crash. Shards of whit

pping her hands over h

finger at Izzy. "You clumsy, undisciplined brat!" he roared. "Look what yo

a physical blow. Her breath hitched, h

gainst the glass, their leaves trembling violently, their thorns scraping against the pane. Fear, fear, f

, her body shaking violently. She c

massive frame blocking her from view. He grabbed Conrad by the c

ce inches from Conrad's. "Call her that

against her side. "Don't you dare touch him!" she screame

AC

o the hardwood floor. The

, Bryan," Art

with hatred, then shoved him away. Conrad stumbled back,

"You are a disgrace, Conrad. A miserable

pride wounded. "She's a stranger. If you want

ound Katelynn. "Katelynn is our only daughter.

d his hand, leaning against his leg. She looked back at Izzy, stickin

em-Conrad, Evette, and Katelynn-standing together. A perfect, u

e hope, the tiny flicker of hope that maybe,

wisting the fabric around her small fingers. She held on

d down at her small, pale fa

final. "I wouldn't let her stay in this

zy up, but Arthur's can

shoulders sagging. "It's late. It's freezing outside.

in this house alone

gally. But tonight, you stay. I'm calling my lawyer now. He has all our family's information

ning away, dismissing them. Bryan's jaw cle

rd the stairs, not looking back at