son

a symbol of suffocating tradition, now felt like a battleground. I was walki

, her smile tight with disapprov

aid, my voice de

leaving you to fend for yourself," she chided, her eyes scanning me critically. "You

of dutiful sweetness. She was the family's prized porcelain doll, while I was the chipped,

uttered as he passed me, a glass of scotch in his ha

bbles against a sea wall. They thought

f business deals and social gossip. I stood up, tapping my water glass with a

sharp thing that d

oice ringing with a newfound clarity.

he dining room. My grandfather's fork clatter

" my father snapped, his face

my gaze sweeping over their horrifi

do no such thing! Grayson Daugherty is the best thing that has ever happened to you, to this

voice dropping to a low, dangerous leve

he stock prices, the social standing, all the things that mattered to them. They didn

is fist on the table. "The marriage stands." He turned

here the Talleys disciplined their disobedient children. The last time I was there,

didn't struggle. I walked with my head held high, t

r in front of a row of memorial tablets. My gr

e commanded. "You will beg for his forgiveness and

my voice sha

a searing line of fire. I cried out,

ider?," he asked

t a di

nd blinding. But it was nothing compared to the agony in my heart. Throug

th frustrated fury. "Give us one good reason,

eaming in protest, and faced them, my eyes blazing. "Because he doesn't love me! He never has! He

different. I saw a flicker of something in my fath

y k

l blow, far more painful than the can

else, all for a business alliance. My rebellion, my "spirited" nature-it wasn't a flaw to them. It was a feature. They n

all so they could use it to light someone else's way. All my life, I thought my rebellion was a fight for their attention, a des

please, stop. You're hurting her." She knelt beside me, her touch like ice.

at her. "Dani, my dear, you are too kind.

ould talk to him. Explain things. If... if Addy is truly so unhappy... perhaps there's

d her sweet facade. She didn't want to save me. She wanted to rep

he thought was there, on his face, as clear as day: Dan

t out of love, but because

pping with disgust. "Have your divorce. But from this day forward, you are

was a dull throb, my heart a hollow cavern. But I felt a str

lingering on Dani's triumphant face. "You don't need to disown me

rd show," I announced to the cold, silent room, "that the las

nt on, Addison

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