was absolute. Even the fou

a step down.

rom the bottom. His hand

d something

go of t

onto the stone, a loud, jarrin

is knees. His joints cracked audibly. The billionaire patriarch of the

eye-level w

e was like grinding stones,

as weathered, spotted with

he whispered. "My God

who "she" was. She just saw an old ma

?" she w

that was half-laugh, ha

ecting a grab. But he stopped inches from

. Her hand was small and fi

face, pressing her dirty palm against his clean-shaven cheek. He clo

" he said. "I thought

aid, not knowing

u will never

d by a fierce, terrifying protectiveness. He stood up,

s my granddaughter standing

k her in. He

ng, his arms like iron bands. He carried her up the stairs, past t

ed. "I'm hungry too

ad. "If you ruin this moment, bo

tered t

size of a car hung from the ceiling. Estelle buried her face

a long hallway, Este

en feet tall. It was a woman in a b

The exact same shade of pe

hat?" Est

ed at the painting with a

softly. "She was the only person who

me in her life, she didn't feel like a mistak

ern, a young maid pulled out her phone.

The brat is back

en smoothed her