w, her hand occasionally touching the fading scratch on her cheek. Ryan had sent a ca

the day before, h

arty. My parents are expecti

There was nothing

a luxury hotel than a home. The party was in full swing on the back lawn, overlooking the ocean.

greeted us at the entrance. Her

was a surprise. She barely glanced at Lily. "Gabr

of the party, and the whi

r, the fir

ying to get a piece

her child. What an

turn around and leave, but I knew I had to see

sents for Chloe. Ryan and Gabrielle were standing with his parent

d and calculating as his son, clea

e are thrilled to announce that we are putting a chain of boutique ho

ssing Ryan on the cheek. Ryan looked proud,

ned to me, a small, pit

we have made a generous donation in her name to a children's charity fu

just excluding Lily; they were publicly branding h

pity. I grabbed Lily'

in close, her voice a venomous whisper. "Don't you dare ruin my d

se," I said, my voic

n it will ever be y

lk to my mommy like that!" she said, her small voice

arby, seized the opportunity for drama. She stumbled

me! Daddy, s

saw Chloe on the ground and Lily standing over he

is hand flew out, slapp

oed in the su

, her eyes wide with shock and disbelief. A brig

pped his o

op. I stared at Ryan, at the man who had just stru

was finall

ing uncontrollably. She didn't cry. She just stare

, my voice dangerously q

rough the stunned crowd of guests. I

ack. I heard him call my name, a note of d

t! It was a

that life, and never looked back. The last tie that