hting to stay upright. The pain in her stomach was a hot, coil

ind her. She didn't need to turn to know

not with concern, but with annoyance. As if her pub

f a glance. She stared straight ahead at the

aphina bit out, the words ta

as it approached the curb. With her last ounce of strength, she pushed herself

croaked to the d

figure in her rearview mirror. She watched until he disappeared, and only then

en her, swallowing two tablets dry. The sharp edges of the pain bega

clear he would rather see her die than help her. The ring, her last

urky parts of her memory. A name she hadn'

oss. He

t handle the fall from grace, the sudden plunge into poverty. She'd left a short, cold note on the kitchen table and disappeared, ab

for her. But now... now, that woman was her

er father's nursing home. Inside was a card with a new address, handwritten in her mot

ina told the driver, her voice

orman in a crisp uniform. It radiated old money and quiet luxury. The contrast between t

er into a lavish apartment. The space was decorated in shades of cream and gold, wi

She looked younger than her years, preserved by wealth and ease. When she saw Seraphina standing in her foyer,

voice was a soft, bre

r arms outstretched. Instinctively, Seraphina took a

in, sit down. Uncle Thorne has treated me well all these years. He has a daughter who will come for

family. The one thing she di

nse of unease settled over her. A particular sculpture on a pedestal, th