y

se people, but the sheer relief of seeing Alaric, Collin, and Arnulfo, combined with the lingering sting on my cheek an

ardson, a man who commanded respect in every boardroom and across every continent, had just called me "Dad." His presence alo

Dillard family with a chilling intensity. His gaze landed on Aunt Carol, whose

ts before now turned frantic. I saw glances exchanged,

tant relative whisper, his voice trembling. "

uld she possibly know him?" another one

rated, replaced by a ghastly pallor. Her lips moved, but no sound came out. She looked between me and Alar

the overwhelming sense of vindication. This was it. This was the line in the sand. My

d selfish, ceased to exist for me then. She had been erased by their cruelty, reborn through my own resilienc

rile white walls, the incessant beeping of machines, and the crushing weight of their indifference. They had left me to die, litera

rink. He introduced me to Alaric, who, with an uncanny kindness, offered me a home, a name, a family. He gav

my body and in my soul, and he loved me anyway. He gave me Leo, our beautiful son, a l

And the Ivy Richardson standing here now, bleeding but unbowed, was a woman forg