nd eyes that seemed to look right through you, had told him a child born on my exact date and time would save his life. So, the old man, who

multi-billion-dollar foundation. My father, a small-time union boss who' d never given me a se

rence in my father' s eyes. He preferred my older stepsister, Jennifer. She was his real daughter, the

light of rickety stairs because I looked at her new d

e me away, my father stood on the po

he said, his voice slick with greed. "Rememb

got in the car and didn't look

pet project, a living good luck charm. His health actually stabilized for a while, which made the guru look lik

later, Mr. B

ation, a title that came with immense legal standing but zero actual power. His son, Arthur Blak

in the hallways

am C

aying dress-up. He avoided me, leaving me to my own devices in the vast,

the manicured gardens to the dusty, forgotten attics. M

of energy who saw me not as a cha

me new scheme. "Can you tell Ms. Chadwick we need

and I let him. His laughter filled the quiet halls and mad

the family. He was quiet, observant, and always watching. He didn't say much, but he understood things. He would often find me in the libr

t, was officially named the future COO of the company. That ne

Jennifer saw

er who was now my fiercely protective chief

has arranged for your stepsister, Jennifer, to visi

y, her sharp nails and mocking laughter. I knew this wasn't about reco

Caleb, doesn't he?"

d. "That is the lo

grounds, at the life I had built here. I

mind. "Let her come. But Ms. Chadwick, I want yo

mile touched Ms.

my pleasure,