th, the sunlight too bright t

is wasn't the damp, cold room w

the Governor's mansion

tidal wave of pain. My debut

phaned daughter, taken in by us, appearing in th

speech, steal

ivate words

as the

own brother, and Brent Ast

ity," they' d called

t for an offshore nightmare, dragg

s health already "deteriorating" too

reputation in tatters, all for "m

, the phantom pain of my

e calendar on

The day of my

as

ge filled me, pus

steal anything. This time,

ble father, his legacy would b

ne Miller, in her study, already o

uickly when sh

look pale. Are you a

l," I said, my voice surprisingly steady. "The one I

intelligent and percept

nt something... more. Something that

uched her lips. "I think

y designed, its story subtly leaked to a friendly journalist: "A unique c

of supposed triumph with my cast-

ed. It was a major event, half the

er gown I' d once coveted. She looked ra

compliments, her eyes flicking to me o

er side, looking proud. His family' s do

udding politician, was nearby, easily

my father, Chloe was introduced. "A young woman the Miller f

to deliver the same surprisingly polished s

r voice clear

time, I w

gracefully moved to the podium bes

m, carrying easily through the suddenly

y, and about the future we build together. My father, Govern

for our state, my pride in his work, and my own commitment to those ideals. The

was thunder

peech now useless, the silver dres

ile still in place, but wit

oks so familiar. I was considering a design very much like it. I must have mentioned it t

plication hung in the

h, Savi, I... I j

nd Chloe. "Savi, Chloe just has excellent ta

put a lot of initiative into her presentation tonight. We should all

, had been watching intently. My

ed with warmth and pride, "that was a magnificent speech. You have your mot

cool gaze on Brent. "Astor," was

ater, I learned, "Son, be careful who inf

s now a mark of her grasping nature, her momen

sfaction. This was