la

uses of being stuck in traffic or intentionally staying back to finish up some files that had to be turned in the next day. She'd smile, and pat his shoulder as though in understanding. But when he took his clothes off in the bedroom, I watched her sniff them for

st woman I'd ever s

s. Time seemed to slow down, the world tilting, a splash of black and white — a

like I expected, but

erstood my pain. For a brief mome

hat he'd spring up from where he sat and tear the annoying doctor away, and stand up to his Father. That he would put an end

f a beating heart left behind that buffed-up chest. Any pe

s family we

otal control of everything within their reach. What they didn't know was that I, Solana Williams was a free woman, incapable of

tugging at the ends of his father's lips. I needed no soothsayer to tell me he felt victorious. He had successfully gotten rid of his strongest rival in

ould be a shame to cry in front of an enemy. I needed to get a grip

to the space beside him. Quietly, I moved, my legs

been a naive, sixteen-year-old teenager when I was forced to sign that contract, but I very well knew the implications of those psychotic words binding me to Abel. The

disgust. I didn't turn to look at Helen either as she escorted Mother back to their pew across the aisle. I blurred out the Stravkos soldiers standing imposingly in a stra

is time, after everything went downhill pretty fast, I simply didn't care anymore. But that

h I somewhat knew my father deserved it. Still, it was a funera

, the service came to an end. My uncles and cousins circled the casket once more, lifting it up. Once they moved past us, Abel stood up, gesturing for me to go ahead. I obeyed, my body

t he always wanted. To be laid to rest in a town he had labored in for so many years. The press was up the minute we appeared out of the church, racing madly towards us with different colors of

protective arm back around his waist. Some commotion ensured, and I smiled as three-year-old Frank escaped from my cousin, Adele's grip, and ran towards his mother, my sister Helen, wrapping

o see you ag

er cheeks were strangely dry. She looked like a totally different

no longer the sixteen-year-old girl with weak, brown curls, a slender body, and a flat chest. Now, I was a full-grown woman. M

lding on to me as if his life depended on it. "Look how

she'd vanished one cold morning. I would've forgiven her if she'd asked me to come with her, but she didn't. She turned her back on

She and Abel were once best friends, too. But they'd been forced to drift away due to the simmering conflict between both families. Helen h

lt. I should stop blaming her, bu

Frank's high-

t. She was the only one, apart from Mother, who could s

gging harder at her skirt. Helen sighed, bendi

did you come back?" I asked, my voice cautious, stilled

cobalt-blue eyes, and Frank had the right amount of cuteness to make me feel warm. His beer red curls shone in the sunlight, and I wondered fleetingly for a se

oring my questions. "Frank, this

lana," Frank ga

poking his chubby cheeks. He gigg

yn

Is that why you came back?" I asked, my voice thickening with rage. I'd expected more from her, yet she

do hope you forgive me someday," she glanced at the hearse, her eyes softening. "I never forgave him f

erent if we had a brother. As girls, we'd

ee you next week. We'll be leavi

d. "Why

rying to be a better sister. To look out for you like in t

close. I could feel them. "You lost the right t

ease be strong.

hing, Helen. You didn

lost a

leaving me in the lurch? You could've taken me along with you! You knew the Stravkos men would

mmit! I didn't k

bel to come here and lose his shit at her for snapping at me. Ta

ith tears as she held out a hand, urging

own tears back

ars. Show