rine's skin as she stepped o

the dilapidated trailer park in upstate New York. Her spine curved, her shoulders

mily's trailer, she heard her adoptive father, Dale

r open. The stench of stale beer

painting her nails a garish pink. Brenda looked up, her e

t sequined top, walked out of

og dragging herself

urned his red, furious face toward Catherine. He announced that the family's

She turned toward the tiny stor

he slapped a thick stack of legal docum

ked down. The top sheet bore the official seal of the New

line. Next to it was a name she h

legal proxy," Dale said, a greas

re," Jenna chimed in, laughing. "A com

t. The clauses were brutal. She was a biological asset, a t

en-million-dollar dowry t

fingers dug into the crisp white pa

nda hissed, leaning close, "we sell your grandfat

rove through Catherine's chest. That land was her only

swallowed the urge to snap Brenda's ne

reclusive billionaire might be the

nd vacant. She nodded slowly, pl

filth off her body and put on something d

e flimsy door. She stared at the mirror. Faint red mar

stood under the icy spray, scrubbing her skin raw

h her neck. Her finge

stopher medal was gone. It had to be in that saf

thin towel around her waist. Jenna had throw

head. She made sure she looked exactly like the

rumble shook the thin

ddy dirt patch outside. The neighbors peeked throug