TER

's

ing ghostlike past the h

y hands out to flag down a cab before remem

lden card in my hands and typ

rade.

at constrict at the realizat

rs fell down my face because, as disgustin

ught of where it could lead made bile rise in my throat, but the alternative-my father's lifeless bod

alent

of his life. If anyone could write the kind of cheque I needed tonight without blinking, i

g against my skin. My arms wrapped around myself as I walked toward the

window, his eyes scanning m

lentino estate.

eren't expecting that answer.

an emergency. My father's in the hospital, and-"

glancing around before waving me i

. "Thank you... t

mind was running in loops-replaying my mother's cold voice over

alentino estate, my stomach was twisted into knots. I stepped out,

d out, blocking my pa

ino-my mother," I said, forc

ve me a slow, skeptical once-over. "She'

nking. "She's expecting me. You can call her if you want,

inced. "Ma'am, you

eeded to hear. I

amn!" he grun

house-every corner, every shortcut-from when I was a little girl chasing butterflies through its halls

loomed close behind-when I threw myself

on a cream velvet couch, surrounded by at least twenty glossy shopping bags from every ex

t first... then her lips

voice rich with condesce

econd later, panting.

knees buckled, and I dropped onto

ase. I need

aid, setting the glass i

o, and you think running into this house is going to make me

need you to please help me. If I don't get the money before the next 48 hours, Dad's going

and barked, standing

g else happened. A harsh slap resounded a

ned to spill over. My cheek throbbed, the

the burning skin. I didn't want to give

dangling in the air. "Do you see what you've become, Ivy? On your knees, be

n disbelief. "You left Dad for this-for money-and now

hing venomous. "You think I owe that man anyth

but I barely registered it. My entire focus was on the woman in front of me, the woman who

pered, my voice shaking. "E

indness, but to something calculating. Her eyes fli

miled. Slo

re are... other ways to get what you need. And from the looks of it..."

tely to the golden card s

fr

he'd just checkmated me in a ga

aid softly, almost like a lullaby. "Be

My pulse roar

already decided to