xa

gainst my ribs, still reeling from the stranger's sharp, electric touch. I kept my eyes forward, we

still

ng the crowd, his dark, dead

waved for a taxi, sliding into the worn l

n. Now,"

ainst the seat and pulled out my phone an

's smile. The way they moved together, as if t

nths, maybe longer. Every late night and solo

. By the time the cab reached the Alexander Pack Manor's gates, I had settled my resol

the scent of lilies and floor wax greeted me, mixed with b

noise and paused i

Kenda sipped tea. Floyd and Charlotte lounged comfortably on

shaking as he set down his drink. Charlotte insta

orried about you wit

nnocent mask slipped for a split second be

paper onto the coffee t

spect your sister l

n't a

ropped the dashcam footage to the livin

voice fill

'm better

idn't h

. God...

gasp escaped Kenda. Her teacup slipped from her trembling hands an

one moved.The color dr

voice cracked. "Ple

d toward Barret. Then she collapsed onto her knees, burying her face in her h

was, my arms fold

e, I felt almost

e desperate performance.What I hadn'

y uncle.The man who had stood beside my father's h

him to keep

wo traitors ou

rom disbelief... to sho

nmistakable rage.For one brief moment, hope

eyes cooled in

, his gaze left Floy

inside

ne thick finger and po

the coffee table, "By exposing our family's flaws on a TV screen like a reality show

y betrayal or my pain. He only cared about scandal, stock pri

ur fault, Alexa! Your coldness and obsession with work pushed Floyd awa

s audacity lef

d said, his voice becoming more confident, "Alexa, you've never been emotionally invested. I tried. God k

ng down her cheeks. "Sister, I didn't intentionally

ront of his shirt. He looked at Floyd, then

ett coldly announced, "the enga

. The sound scraped my throat. "Y

transferred to Charlotte. She and Floyd are clearly a better match. T

lexa, you need to make concessions for your sister's hap

king her hand. He looked at me, hi

s way. But you and I were never meant t

uth and paint me as the villain. Years of trying to prove myself, of swallowing m

settle over me. No tears, no

my lips, never reaching my

ilent. "Okay?" Charlotte r

ozen in their petty victory. No one call

. He had taught me honor and leadership, and he had believed in me. I wa

ed into unshakable fire. I would never beg for a pla

me to pack and leave. They had chosen