always been a

d my younger brother, Ethan. I went on to build my own career, became a mother to my wonderful daughter, Lily, and eventually went through a divorce. I mo

small tech company with seed money from our parents. He was smart, ambit

ompletely obsessed with a

ot greedy, studying for certificates in her spare time and always politely refusing the expensive gifts Ethan tried to buy her. My

e family was thrilled. A wedding was planned quickly, a

s, tasting cakes, and reviewing floral arrangements. I wanted their day to be perfect. The house was filled with a

e during a family dinner, jus

clumsy new hire at the factory, and my mother was laughing, refilling Ethan' s plate. Lily was happily coloring in a book at

n, her voice soft and pleasant, cutting through the

serving spoon. "Of c

he table, her gaze pau

and I will be living here, of course. For us to start our new life together

y sound was the faint scratch

ught I must have misheard her. I was holdi

crack echoed

wooden floor. Hot tea splashed across my leg, but I barely fe

his voice tight with confusion.

o you mean? This is Sarah' s home, too. There are s

able expression on her face. "I k