on Koc

ung up

ain ballroom, my phone still pressed to my ear, listening to the dead air. Th

is hand. He took one look at my face and his expre

said, the phrase grating on my nerves

a sip of his drink. He wasn't ev

's supposed to be here! Everly is about to cut the cake. The

ight years, and tonight, on the night you were supposed to finally acknowledge her,

I ground out, raking

ld roll over and accept this," he reminded me. "You were so damn sure

s' lawyer, Mr. Henderson, flashed in my mind. He'd c

Hope has been waiting a very long time for this recognition. To have

lie I told Finn, the same lie I told myse

g sharp. "She is the rightful heir to half of everything. Everly is..

messy, complicated reality of Hope. Everly cried if her favorite designer was out of stock. Hope had donated a major organ and

to regain control. "She's trying to make a

she do

Koch. That name means something. She's no

e! Everyone's asking for you. Did you see the diamond necklace Daddy Henderson sent o

he necklace I had commissioned for Hope. A custom piece with a single, perfect star sapph

storm brewing inside me. She pouted slightly. "I fee

lly, the words tasting like poison. "A

Now, come on! It's time for my speech. I want you standing

the flashing cameras and the sea of expectant faces. As I walked, I felt like a man being led to his own execution

a glaring accusation. I had told myself that keeping Hope at arm's length was for h

, to protect the perfect, uncomplicated family narrative I had so carefully constructed. Hope,

ust want to thank my amazing brother, Kingston!" she trilled, beaming at me.

aching from the effort. Finn caught my eye from acro

read began to seep into my bones, far colder than the January w

And I had no one t

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