a glass of champagne. The mocke

ying it," I said calmly. "T

elt colder

scared and cautious. Liam, my classmate at the ti

struggling family business. He finally agreed, bu

eed. I was naive. I th

l he wanted was a connec

ting the Stone mansion frequently. It wasn't

a sharp, ugly laugh. His voice was lou

Stone family heir? You' ll be ki

, his voice dripp

front of me? Ava, do you r

mily will bel

stood there in a designer gown, looking like a princess

oice full of disgust, "and you' re no longer the

cklace from hi

aw it, rage fl

le had ever been truly good to m

o run. My foster mother, however, had given me all the

his very necklace in it. It was made of cheap

n I' m gone, you' ll have to rely on yourself.

will take care of you. This neckl

st thing she

I gave him the necklace. A s

filled with my most precious memori

rew it on

o pick it up, but his sh

d it unde

er marry a failure like yo

e. The sound of the cheap cryst

les, her kind gestures,

ace, hot and uncontrolla

my birth mother. "How could I have a daugh

have no composure at

blurred by tears, and

r face filled with anger. She strode for

? You disrespectful child! How did

the slap ma

ve us crazy with your attitude," she

as stoppe

her voice syrupy sweet. "Ava is just