r, the hou

ed. My father,

th a glass of water

Ava," he said, his voi

elped them. You let them steal

" he said, placing the tray on a

is living my life, and you're

aid. "She believes this is best

What do you be

complicated, Ava. Take these. Get so

the pills. Seda

I said. "Not until you tell

insists. She's worried you'll cause a

lian's weddi

'll tell the tru

His eyes flickered with somethin

nder immens

" I

. "If you don't take them willingly, E

tion was cl

own father. How coul

mperceptible shake of his

ning? Or som

efused, they'd force

thought. A de

"gone," w

this was

an then. Not all of

ks ago, before I left the faci

life.

idea that had formed in hu

this

by David, allied

lls. H

ay

my father, r

here, but also a

The plan wa

o play

e table. Picke

ice flat. "If it will

. He gave the

e, so potent it almo

ding dawned. I kne

the room for the ce

s the mother of th

should have been mine, loo

guests arrived in full force, I

with this," I told

ear Ava, it's already

hloe said to the few early gu

hed, his f

nging with a conviction that startl

ather. "I can't

he discreetly held.

, a silent ques

odd

ful, triumphant gaze,

is voice thick with feigned

l. "This will help y

looked away, a flicker of so

vial. The liq

" I said. "For fina

t down in

he floor, a convincin