a P

ou don't hav

istant again. "You don't

hand, forcing myself to meet his gaze. "Defensive

" he said. "Now that you're

our grandfather so easily. Tell me the real reason, Bryce. Is it bec

three years of my life with

ghing the cost of telling me the truth. The silence

, delivered with no inflecti

The name struck me

times while I was living with the Holdens. She was the daughter of one of their strategic allies. She was the only one who survived that

ggled to keep my voice steady. "Your 'responsibi

in his cheek. "This is not your conc

his power, to shut me down. To remind me of m

responsibility. It was never just responsibi

enient, well-behaved substitute who

lie without purpose. My heart was still trembling with a faint, desperate ho

He saw me as a sister. How could he ever

y unborn child. I couldn't. I couldn't

I could barely hold it. I didn't bother reading the generous ter

flicker of something unreadable crossed his face

toward him. Without another word, I turned a

the bed, burying my face in the pillows t

ere when my phone vibrated on the nightsta

u need to

ge. A screenshot of

ing posted? Who's that woman w

nner circle. My fingers trembled a

ome features half hidden in shadow. A woman with long dark hair leaned into him, her head almo

Kyla

mp. It had been poste

to give me the divorce papers. While I had signed the agreement, and wh

dy the possessive way Kyla looked at him. It was t

mp down on my heart, stea

om Cori arrived: A

slipped from my numb fingers and lande

The stress, the heartbreak-it was reaching the baby. I wrapped my arms tigh

es. I realized I couldn't just stay curled up like this. I couldn't let m

f the wreckage. For