mall living room

his throat, his eyes avoidin

signed," he said, his v

sister, Jessica. "Girls, you need to

the worn sofa, her hands clasped t

but it was familiar

hance, my second life. The memories o

sually dull, held a flicker of something

bered a life with Mom, a life s

too quick, too eager. She looked at Rich

smile back. "Good. Vi

uture stepmother, a tech billionaire from Ca

pressure to be perfect. The way she broke me down, piece by piece. And th

Not

ther's voice p

so a quiet strength I hadn't seen clearly in my first lif

I said, my voice

. Victoria can offer you so much mor

Mom," I

ant to stay in this dump? With her?" She gestur

ived when she lived with Mom. She craved the wealth Richard' s new marriage promise

di

not malleable enough. So, Jessica had stayed with Mom, stewing in resentment, wat

s choosing the fire,

ermined love of my mother. It was th