air. Caroline couldn't help but flinch. It became clear to

red every humiliation she had suffered there. Then there was the divorce agreement

want the first conversation with her biological family to become a disc

he sadness in her eyes beneath he

d, she continued, "I worked as a live-in maid for that family. Today was my last day, so I moved out.

y looked into Amanda's background. What he learned was simple. A

e mother from one household to another. For more than

had even been bullied and t

uddenly that it became

m. When he spoke again, his voice was awkwardly gentle. "I understand now. It's alright

all it would take to make him return to Ha

.

s-Royce came to a stop outside

lluminated the luxurio

ve got a work call to take." After helping the two

click. Only then did Amanda finally relax. The

she grabbed Caroline's hand. Tears

our father's condition is stable now, so we don't have those expensive medical bills anymore. Th

ess struck Car

bout this last night. Isaac's heart belongs somewhere else now, so why should you keep suffering through this mar

the way your brother carries himself and the cars that came with him, it's obvious they're very wealthy. Carrie, you don't have to stay trapped any

are you saying that? Are you trying to push me away? If it weren't for you and Dad, I would've died i

er tears as she pulled Caroline into her arm

the private ro

of their red eyes immediately caught his attention. His step

dish was brought to the table. Lobster. Premium bluefin tuna. Black truff

ishes in front of her, she swallowed. "Caleb," she said quietly, "isn't this a li

a chair and sat down. He placed

htest hesitation, he kept up the image of belonging to an ordinarily prosperous fami

when I picked your mother up today. That neighborhood isn't in great shape, and the security isn't good either. How about tomorrow we go l

She immediately waved both hands. "No, no! Caleb, t

ance design work over the last few years. I've already chosen a neighborhood, and I'm

a complex mix of heartache an

h, yet she remained so

"If that's what you w

later, he reached into his suit jacket. From an inner pocke

ted with the Howard family. Instead, he ha

on a serious look. "Mom, Dad, your other two brothers prepared this together for you. Your birthday

ure gathered in her eyes. In the end, she couldn't bring h

ight had grown late. Caleb insisted on d

e immediately noticed something. The long Rolls-R

ur, and the cost was ridiculous, so I sent them

's face. A burden she hadn't realized

ually, it entered the aging residential neighborhoo

st, Carrie," said Caleb as he stepped

Caroline headed toward the building. Togeth

pulled out Caroline's worn canvas bag. Just then, a ringtone bro

opened the bag and took out an

ed contact name. Only a string of lo

ating the underworld had sharpened his instincts.

ned suspended above the answer bu