, keeping to myself and avoiding any unnecessary interaction with the people around me. I didn't even bother stepping outside for

all, and there were times when we would cross paths in the hallway or sit acro

nse. Sometimes, I would give him a brief glance before returning my attention to my foo

topped

at the hospital had opened my eyes to something I ha

r the people around us, and more importantly, how much power she he

y how to make t

s supposed to prioritize me and who should have conside

had completely s

hould do next. I replayed everything that had happened during the last two

't help laughing at

os in my head about what it would be like to finally have a real family again. I thought I would be welcom

ling them Mom and Dad, and

anted t

ad happene

never tru

he countryside, and when they learned more about my background as Saudian

daughter. They never made any effort to let the pe

hidden, as if my existence were somethin

ree older

the little girl missing for fifteen years. I thought they wou

they could have given me had al

nothing l

en a l

g she wanted. Whatever she asked for, they would readily give her, as tho

om college, Penelope still didn't have a clear direction in life. S

anded to her on

to prove herself, and never had to worry abou

tell whether my own famil

s they

wn enough interest

out my years as a student, I

. Both were doctors, and together with Grandma Emy, Jocelyn's mother, they had

nes who had wat

eams and encouraged

el that I was loved, even when I had

behind because I wanted

eturning to my biological fam

n't so sur

and I were having breakf

bother visiting Penelope at the hospital any

dway as I was abou

at my breakfast, trying to p

an started informin

ways ask where he was going. I wanted to know when he w

thing more than a brief glance

ouldn't even bo

denly telling me

make sure I wouldn't visit

ly being consi

tly, I no longer had the

" he asked when I

ly nodded once before return

had stopped moving. His hand was still holdin

, I thought he mig

days. Maybe he would finally notice that I had stopped talking

he d

ursue the c

expected

ugh for him to care about my

st, Kieran le

I wasn't going to call him, but I certainly w

wasn't ne

dy made up my mind t

on, another fake apology, or another situat

, I want

of Kieran's absence,

essage fro

to the hospital and help

or a few seconds, my thum

have ign

available or that she should ask o

d accuse me of being ungrateful again, and I didn't have the

y typed a

ka

sage, I picked up my

ospital, Penelope was t

ad a few days ago. Her hair was neatly arranged, and the faint smile on her fac

the corners of her li

head slightly as she looked at me. "No mat

er without sa

d that made my stomach twist. She wasn't ev

to know that

me to feel ev

ing for the hundredth time

re si

ical s

the same family name, and the sam

w

termined to make

en separated from our family for a long time aft

chosen to

n to grow up a

ears of my life with the people w

gh my return had been some

finally asked, unable to keep th

t I made sure to look

er done anything to hurt you. So w

slowly d

sion on her face changed so sudde

her gaze was

e was nothing in the world that could

ld have b

fr

I thought I ha

ed, but no w

yself staring at the woman in front of me as

ild when I was kidnapped, I might have thought

suddenly snapped, her voice rising with every word. "I would still be the younge

elieve what

ously saying

with me for the love and

on that should have been

, unable to hid

ended up being Kieran's fiancée!" she co

verything final

st want my place i

place in Kiera

t her as the weight of her w

stood just how self