ilent, cold room. "I th

rocess it. "You have the wrong number,

amily twenty years ago. But you were born Olivia Hayes. You have a small, crescent-shaped birthmark on your left sh

' d had my entire life. The lullaby... it was a tune that had haunted

hispered, my

tle but filled with pain. "We were told you didn't make it. But my parents never gave up hope.

wounded sound. Twenty-five years. For twenty-five years, I thought I was an orphan, a cha

oked out. "My n

lt like coming home. "Olivia, are you okay? Y

d him everything. The frame-up, the prison, the abuse, the stolen songs, the party, Chloe's cruelty,

nd on the other end of the line. When I finished

is one of the most powerful dynasties in Europe. Our name carries weight. The fact that the Bennetts, a minor f

u have our parents. We will protect you. We will give you everything you deserve." He mentioned Noah, his voice laced with contem

th Noah, the promises whispered in the dark, the future we were supposed to have. It all felt like a dream from another life, a beauti

huddering breath

It will be there in twelve hours. I'll text you the details

c life, was a terrifying and exhilarating prospect. For the

d reality of the Bennetts on the other. I looked at my reflection in the dark window-a pale, thin girl with haunted

ne-way ticket to a random city, a digital decoy. Then I went to my bank and quietly with

my room, a voice stoppe

room, a smug smile on her face. She was dressed i

usiness," I said, tr

my family's roof, eating our food. Running away? How pathetic

she grabbed my arm, her nails digging int

Chloe," I warne

what? You'll hit me? Go ah

let out a theatrical scream and stumbled backward, intentionally knocking ov

llapsing into a heap of crocodile t

than and Noah, my two former pr

demanded, his eyes immediately goin

d, my voice steady despite

s trying to leave, and when I asked her where she was going, she got a

ere. She won' t hurt you." He looked at me, his face a mask of fury and disappointment.

't look at me. "Sarah, why are you doing this? We're trying to help you.

y voice rising. "She's lying! Lo

h. You're clearly unstable. The prison has done a number on you

mising her that everything would be alrig

," he said, his voice weary.

d my life with. I saw nothing of him left. Only a hollow she

lieve me," I said, the words cold and

ly. I turned and walked back to my room, the sound of th