lia

ave. I had to ask him, face to face, if

around to see my adoptive father, Lanny Baldwin. His

as f

n't you embarrassed us enough for one

king over me with disgust, as if I were a damaged product.

family was standing completely on his side. "It

said, crossing her arms, her face a mask of smug satisfaction. "It

air, twisting it into a knot in her hands. "The Baldwin name

s and crawling up my spine, spreading to my limbs. Not a word of comf

whiskey. "I raised you for twenty years, fed y

e investing," I finished for him, my voice so calm it made him

led a number, tore it off, and slapped it into my h

ough to last a lifetime for an ordin

in, and tossed it into the ice bucket of the champagne cart that was being wheeled awa

pupils c

e eye, each word distinct, "keep it for

the plague. "Let's go, Mabel, don't stand near her-if the ph

ce. "Loser." I watched her, and moved my own lips, silently, but enough for her to read. "Just

the parking garage, not a single

completely. If Devon's departure wa

nce, in my expensive wedding dre

th pity but kept his distance.

ebumps. I had never felt so cold, but I straighte

tears I'd been holding back finally broke free

er cried for these people. A wild, desperate thought be

et anyone se

self to scan my surroundings, sea

the other side of the hotel. There was another wedding happening

kward groups, their faces a mixt

e locked onto a

at alone in a wheelchair. His back was

. Another groo

-nothing plan ign