eli

s shooting at me would have been

felt was a ho

zabeth keeps pleading on your behalf," Adrian said coldly

pond, but Thomas beat me

ind of clown sh

ed toward him-

to get involved. If there were two people I didn't w

didn't want my past en

early had oth

ed with ice. His gaze shifted to Elizabeth, cold and cutting

landed

ye, I saw Adrian's expr

re you?" h

I replied before Thomas could speak, stepping slightly in fr

ng toward me like a lunatic, I would probab

d. "If anyone deserves an apolog

tch at the corner of Adrian's eyes b

mouth to speak, Zora's v

ying!" she

snappe

tinued, pointing an accusing finger at me. "Sh

ned. "

pletely and tugged

y think Aunt Beth would drive recklessly with me on the bike? D

izabeth ca

n her own, her movements careful-almost shy-like

that," she said softly. "Everyone

lickering toward me be

ith her companion

her lips, Thomas stepped for

ou

ately, giving a subt

Adrian asked, disappointment flickering across hi

early sli

who could lie straight to my face without hesitation-a

ir

and so willing to side with his mistress. and a

hen a

should b

ad already fil

o let go of this ungrat

ho knew what Elizabeth migh

about to stay

about we review the CCTV footage

yes narrow

ly. Instead, I turned to Thom

trieve the fo

ation and turned to leave b

away, Eliza

to go that far? I mean. cau

is," I

back to her, my t

ed that I pushed you, while my lovely daught

sed b

, I'm responsib

hardened

here is ev

a small laugh and

dd

off before she could continue.

back to me, sha

ootage proves you're not innocent, you will

?" I asked, my voice steady,

Adrian seeme

't expected m

uth to respond,

ill get on her kn

rowed into a

eli

errupted smoothly. "An

caught the flicker of unease

ps to speak, but

t to play it t

mas returned, a t

said, handi

the screen before passin

look,"

t, his expression unreadabl

d the footage, his ey

he color drain slightly

" she

continue, he abruptly

een a misunderstand

I was stunne

nderst

echoed i

sunders

g-Elizabeth driving recklessly, and

he b

ed through

standing?"

d, completel

ooting," he said calmly. "And you. you ne

the tablet

p this mat

ze without a

as stare at him, mom

such a big deal out of this-

, he dismissed it as nothing

tes ago, you demanded that I kneel and apologize to Elizabeth. Now that I've

. Daddy already said to drop it. Don't b

y husband and my daughter-and

ly clear that when it came to

I said quietly. "Fine. Then I'll leave the th

is gaze. "Ten a.m. tomorrow.

s jaw tightened, then

ark my words, Adeline Carter-you'll come crawling back to me.