tory. Alwa

tch onto their power. Since the day I got married, every single

All I've ever heard from him is "keep Ronald happy" s

t just for a sliver of so-called family love. Truth be told, Ronald was

king glint in my eyes. My voice was calm, "He doesn't owe us anything. And I'm

ne looked stunned like they couldn't believe t

s fork down, glaring and shouting, "Isabella!

and this is how you treat me? When I g

d well, and now I ask you for a bit of help and you act like

mth. "Isabella, sweetheart, you're still part of the Carter family, right? Your family's y

t us a little bit of support. If your dad's business

it's great for them-if I

r. One day, he'll watch everything he built collapse, l

, but we'll talk about everyth

Now that's more like it. While you're at it, talk t

ike I was her last hope. "Isa, don't let him overwork me, okay? Al

he table and said in a flat, c

ly shocked, like she didn'

lla, you're her cousin and Ronald's wife. Sophia just graduated. If she starts from th

ind of hard life. I know it's nothing for you to arra

"Whoa, hold on. I didn't agree t

ne minute it's about money, the next it's a

d his hand on the table. "Watch your to

outright, sc

I helped. But from now on, if anyone wants anything fro

king me deal with this kind of stuff all the time-what if someone gets annoyed a

ed darker by the second, and I could feel his eye

t. The food's getting cold

r jaws clenched so tight I could hear th

up my fork again. Out of everyone at that table, I was t

y, good app

headed upstairs to lo

ring to Thomas, "Don't you think Isabella's acting.

ng. Reaching my room, I realize

a while before finally digging

pair of canvas sneakers. I sli

here she was-Sophia-standing at t

ked the doorway, chin slightly rais

mething?" I

n how you're doing." Her tone was

a big deal? Sounds like your life in the Wright family isn't

"is it that you just don'

. "What are you

pper hand. "Are you scared that Ronald might like m

et out a cold laugh a

he's always been obsessed with. Where did Sophi

don't you just call Ronald yoursel

eed imm

ed up pretty fast, and I

eep, distant vo

ike it was gold and squeake

n asked, "Wher

, not sure what

I'm the one who wanted to talk to you. Jus

onald asked, vo

lips and turned on

e always so kind, I figured there's no way you'd say no, right? But Isabella's kinda against

s reply was s

'd won the lottery, th

the slap i

efinitely don't need people who

ce froze. "

holding back a full-on grin. Ronald's vo

that? Have you no sense of decency?

la. No brains, no skills. What's she supposed

as she held the phone,

y laughed. Then Ronald added, "Isabell