the forgotten white tulle veil from the Porsche's passenger seat and shoved it unde

ore through the storm like a black pant

s. Tears slid silently down her cheeks. "Don't you dare die on me," she

lane at Mount Sinai Hospital. A

r. A nurse tried to stop her at the emergency room doors. Ansley didn't slow down. She didn't speak. She

he cold wall. She pulled the memory card from her pocket. Ja

thumb hovering over the screen, before dialing the Montgomery estate. Whatever game they were playing, they needed to know that t

her was screening her calls. On the night someone had tried to

the hall dinged. Rapid fo

frantic. Her eyes were red-not from crying, Ansley noticed, but from irritation. The kind of irritat

ght, completely unharmed-a flash of something dark and furious crossed her face before she could mask it. It was gone i

ders. "Do you have any idea what you've done? The Vaughn family lawyers are already

s farm to learn some humility, and you come back worse than b

s shook her head. "A Vaughn. You ran from a Vaughn. Gir

et them finish. She let them exhaust themselves. And then

aid, her voice perfectly l

d was the loudest sound

ched out to hold Ansley's hand

about the scandal. I'll go beg the press to cover up the wed

e height of a steel wire. The same hand that had paid Jaydin to string it acros

gunshot. She looked at her adopted sister like she was a piece of trash. "Prot

ore she masked it with confusion. "What are you t

ather. "Did you even ask if I a

aren't you? More drama to cover up yo

Vaughn will punish her for running, Dad. She'

s, Ansley. Making yourself the victim when you're t

rs old, and you looked at that sweet orphan girl like she had stolen something from you. We sent you to Texas for your own good-

rs waiting for these people to love her. Twenty-four years hoping that one day, one of them would choose her. And here they were-standing in a

e lies. The broken vases blamed on Ansley. The stolen jewelry found under Ansley's pillow. The whispered accusations that had turned her parents ag

supposed to love her. And not one of

Done waiting for an apology that will never come. Done being the only person in this family who remembers

Mr. Vaughn is stable. We've mov

g smile. "Excellent. We'll go in a

"He just woke up. He is extr

ll see me for the family's sake." She made her voice sound sweet and innocent, steppi

s. The heavy oak door was violen

d Heidi's path completely. His gaze swept ove

ast Heidi. He locked eyes wi

ced loudly, blocking the path with his imposing frame. "No one steps foot in that room unless

id. The assistant hadn't just blocked her-he had publicly declared exactly who mattered in this hos

didn't have to fight for her place. It had