Love Lost, A Life Reclaimed

't a Daugherty by blood, but an impostor. My husband, Kane, divorced

other's medical debt when they walked into my diner. Kane,

ot my real mom anymore," he announced. "And you're

ther, Jessi, died in the hospital after Britt whispered poison in h

anny, a chance to watch her live my life u

acce

as poisoning my son and had infected my ex-husband with a disease.

pte

announced to the world I was not a Daugherty by blood, but a foster child, an impostor

had a smirk on her face, a glint in her eyes that promised retribution for a life she believed I had stol

on lights and the smell of stale coffee permanently ingrained in the walls. My uniform, perpetually smelling of grease and cheap deterg

with my eyes. My hand trembled, nearly dropping the heavy ceramic mug. They sat at a booth by the window, the sunlight illuminating their polished, privileged existence, a stark cont

He recognized me. Of course, he did. How could he not? He stiffened, his jaw tigh

laced with something akin to discomfort,

o when they need to pay bills." My voice was flat, devoid of e

ht. Let me help you. You shouldn't be working in a place like this." He pushed a few b

charity, Kane. I earn my money honestly." I hated the tremor in my

. You know how dramatic she always was." She then turned her attention to Cleveland, who was busy coloring in a menu. "C

second, I saw a flicker of recognition, a hint of the boy I used to sing

voice high and clear, cutting through the diner' s ambient noise.

old, empty ache spread from my chest, sharper than any knife. It was

t's right. I'm a waitress." My voice was barely a whisper. I focused on the

Cleveland whined, tugging on Kane' s slee

guilt, in his eyes. "Kara, don't you think this is a bit... b

was revealed? The one that suddenly became null and void because I wasn't a Massey by birthright?" The words tumble

Kara. You know that was a misunder

a surge of impotent rage. "You threw me out, Kane. Your family stripped me of every

nnoyed. "Mommy, Daddy, can we jus

d, twisted the knife in my heart. "Is that what your 'mommy' taught you, Cleveland? To dismiss

That's enough, Kara. You're upsetting my son." He

"Don't touch me." The disgust in my voice was palpable.

Kara. The one who gave you up. The one who chose to abandon you.

rs that it had lost all meaning. It was just a sound now, an echo of a life that no longer existed. I didn't hav

ened by debt, working a dead-end job. The gilded cage had been beautiful, but once removed, I was

uffocating. I could feel their eyes on me, burning holes into my worn uniform. The other waitresses

ger' s harsh voice broke the silence, a welcom

manager, a portly man named Bill, called me i

have to let you go." He avoided my e

hy? I've never been late, n

you, Kara. It's... the diner. It's been bought out. New owner

er me. "Who bought it, Bill?" I

of pity and fear in hi

rse. He bought the diner just to fire me

nued, pushing a sealed envelope across the desk. "A very generous o

ed. "Tell him I don't want his blood money."

mber. "Consider this a fresh start, Kara. You're clearly not cut out for this

is prey. "Kara," he said, his voice smooth, almost soothing. "I told Bill to prepare

lly dismantled?" I clutched the edge of the desk, my knuckles

"It's an opportunity, Kara. You're clearly struggling. You need

asn't 'legitimately' part of the Massey family?" My voice was rising, trembling with suppressed anger. "How exactly do you suggest I 're-educate' myself, Kane? With what money? With what crede

. He had no answer, because he was the one who had orchestrated it all. A b

, your accomplishments... they were all built on a lie. We cannot allow such a stain on the Daugherty name." My university, eager to appease the powerful Daugherty family who funded many of their prog

is face alight with excitement. Britt trailed

for me! She said I was a good boy for telling that mean waitress to go away!" He looke

rude. Kara didn't mean to upset anyone. She's just... having a hard time, a

is wasn't my son anymore. This was a

nued, pointing a finger at me. "And her uniform sm

o sorry, Kara. Children can be so blunt, can't they? It's terribly sweet, though, how loyal he is to us." She paused. "You know, Kane and I were just talking. We actually need a live-in nanny. Someone to look after Cleveland, keep th

unded like salvation but felt like a deeper prison.

ke, his voice tight. "Britt, that's en

ted. She always worried about Kara' s future. Besides, who better to look after Cleveland than someone who... used to kn

ed evil of her. She wanted to invite me into her home, into my old hom

miliation anymore. This was a dire

hed Britt' s triumphant smile, and for the first time in five years,

n touch." She turned, taking Cleveland by the

e beginning. I had nothing left to lose. And sometimes, that made a person the most