n her knees, her hands cupping her cheeks. Her f

-but the time for dreaming was long gone. The chaos from earlie

ldn't wrap her

s she

the fire engulfing her, the searing heat swallowing

t a nightmare-it

kstorm's hotel room. The year read 2008. That me

ete

so much had

d film school. But she hadn't given up. She clawed her way into the entertainment industry throu

ould make it on her own, th

, the media dragged her into the spo

f the entertainment world. Her image wa

er fa

ce and called her shameless, saying she'd humiliate

d her out of the house. They severed ties, claiming it was t

two daughters had seemingl

.. had be

er death that Ash

. She had adored them, worshipped them even. But in reality, they s

t out, left with nothi

aughtered her like a

tred r

rhaps, had tak

the trap had been set. Only this tim

he would rew

who hu

a single one of t

pted by a sudden, shrill

t a familiar flip phone. The once-silv

rtphones, the clunky thing

answered, fli

ckled through the speaker. "Oh my God, you didn't come home last ni

curled into

ke dying to find out

" she repl

and grandma don't know yet. Your sis

me? Ashley sn

nd pigs

ar the schemes ticking b

lt surreal. It had been ten years since she was thrown

istant home stirred a storm of

onger the helpless gi

ind her ear, straightened her back

living room, five pair

welcoming

y Dad and Gran

ns, Sally and Mia had clea

back!" Ashley chirped sweetly

catching the curious glances directed at he

Meena, Sally's other daughter, blurte

Impressive. They can't

party," she said lightly. "We stay

ying!" Mi

rupt that even Grandma and Mr

nd quickly stepped in. "M

ot! I ran into Alice last night, and sh

d. "Oh? You ran into her? In the

s parted,

with Alice-and someone else saw you too. Deny

'm close with Alic

not part of the crew, why would she tell you everything

night from her past life. Back the

smiling beside her were the same on

ou obv

" Bobby snapp

he clock and subtl

n on the TV. Your father always

, picked up the remo

flicked to t

with politics and business.

s about to explode on-screen. You're hoping Dad and

icta

a glance before rising. "I'm not

e," Mia pleaded. "

f and headed to

I'll help set the table

glaring as Ashley floated away-unt

Mia turned up the