His Broken Promise, My New Beginning

ey. In return, he promise

ving my "Welcome Home" party to our adopted sister. He called me a ghost he did

scream; I just turned off my

pte

on Koc

I knew it, my business partner Finn knew it, and somewhere deep down, under laye

ossed over his chest, looking more like a disapproving father than the COO of my tech empire. The late afternoon su

steepling my fingers. "It's not a m

ope a 'Welcome Home' party. A formal introduction to the world as a Koch, as your co-heir. No

h in my mouth even as I said it. "She felt like Hope's arrival wa

shot back, his gaze unwavering. "This isn't about Everly's birthday, and

s ridi

trying to forget. Everly is the perfect, polished daughter you and your parents chose to build

and a muscle in my jaw tightened. "I kn

ser to the desk, leaning his hands on it. "She's waited eight years for this, Kingston. Eight years since you 'found' her,

I w

r be Hope's turn?" He shook his head, a look of profound disappointmen

I snapped, the guilt a famili

er like she's endlessly patient, endlessly forgiving, and one da

nwavering devotion. I thought of her, lying in a hospital bed next to m

you be

my trump card, the ultimate proof of her loyalty. "When I was dyi

't understand the bond we had, the debt she felt she owed me for

the plan? How are you going to tell her you've hijac

d, affecting a casual tone. "A joint celebration. Sh

epeated, the word d

t for Everly, and she'll smile and pretend she's happy to share the spotlight." I envisioned it perfectly: Hope, in a simple, off-the-rack dress, standing q

nally, his voice heavy with doubt. "Because if you're wrong, you're not jus

ice. I stared out at the city skyline, the setting sun painting the glass towers in

by and watch Everly blow out the candles on a cake that should have

lways

dence I'd projected for Finn now fraying at the edges,

-