y

tated luxury. My new family's hotel. The irony was a bitter taste on my tongue. Dexter got out, opened my door,

ally dragging me out of the car. My shopping bags were s

otel lobby, talking to a distinguished-looking couple. Donnell looked thinner, his hair grayer, his shou

shb

lasses in the kitchen cabinet rattle. I was ten, caught talking on the phone p

. Totaled it. Donnell had simply sighed, shaken his head, and bought her a new, even more exp

Flas

is, Dad! I found her." His voice w

tive step forward, his gaze sweeping over me, as if trying to reconcile the woman in front of him with the girl h

oudly, as if trying to break the spell. "Just like I said she would

n, she was the first thought. I suppressed a bitt

anything. He just stared

nd distant, a polite stranger. "Now that I've fu

round, suddenly aware of the curious glances from other guests.

hat..

e died five

actly like he

ouble, even after all these years." "Always the dra

name are you doing here? Showing your face after all this time? Don't you have any respect for the family

the spark. I felt a familiar weariness wash over me. This

p, my movements sharp and decisive. I t

ing for dinner?" Donnell's voice was

shb

atened, when I was seven, pushing a plate of broccoli towards me. He never threatened

Flas

my arm again. "Ivy, please. Just lis

s pleading face. "Get your hand off me, De

, his grip tightened. As if I didn't mea

even me. Before I could take another step, Aunt Carol, the one who had insulted my mother, lunge

across my cheek. Her palm connected with my face, a loud

h. I touched my lip, and my fingers came away stained with b

ce contorted in fury. "How dare you speak to you

shb

eral, a handkerchief pressed to her eyes. "Such a g

nce, I say. That girl was nothing but trouble for Donnell. Always causing s

Flas

usea so strong I thought I might be sick. This wasn't re

shocked, but made no move to help me. The other relatives gaped, some with disappro

a passing waiter's tray. With a swift, powerful motion, I smashed it against the polished marble floor at Aun

veryone gasped. The noise cut throug

trickled from my lip, but I ignored it. "My name is Ivy Richardson. The Ivy Dillard you knew is dead. And you," I pointed a

at? Look what she's done!" Aunt Carol wailed, pointing at the

!" He looked at me, a strange mix of fear and desperation in his eye

ading. "Ivy, please. Don't make things worse. Just come with

asked, my voice barely a whisper, yet it cut through the air like a knife. "About how you abandone

through the chaos, a voice I knew and l

cably dressed and radiating an aura of undeniable power, was Alaric Richardson. My adoptive father. Behind him, Arnulfo, his expressi

leeding lip, to the gaping faces of the Dillard family. His gaze fin

ice low and dangerous,