down the staircase

step, all the way to the lower floor, finally coming to a twisted

in an instant. "Cathy!" He bolted

ntire house broke

one of them daring to step forward, n

only recently brought back-could be capable of something

op of the stairs, one hand resting lig

red on her face, but beneath it was som

ht to her knees-crying, swearing through broken breaths th

e didn't even feel t

ing her, she saw no reason to fight

rushed in and hauled her up, his

raw a full breath. Tears kept spilling down h

she struggled through the pain. "I guess... Gracie really

ng past his unease. "The one wh

s glare locked onto Gracie, p

he hell down h

ink, just stood there watching him as t

nd unnervingly composed. "Sorry about that. I did push her. But Cathy

ing room seeme

g stiff, while Cathy's eye

unned into silence, as if they could

ly to follow it with a casual apology, like it was nothing more than

lted her head slightly and carried on.

ked off his words before

upstairs and rip her down himself-but even that impul

d lightly against it, eyes carr

he continued, unbothered. "Isn't that exactl

surged through her chest. Her fingers trembled violently, nails

e could afford to l

th. "I don't blame you." Each word felt like it had to be drag

s expression twisted in panic and fury all at once as he spun toward

over him. "Then tell me-what exactly are you planning to do about it? Throw me

her lips, but it carr

you even have that kin

d like a punch, knocking

sion locke

any hurry, each footfall landing into a hush so thi

I was brought back her

and held Jason in a steady, deliberate

rative-your long-lost daughter returning after twenty years, something clean, something polished, something that makes the Carter family look stable, respecta

llowed the

lence-anger and disbelief tighteni

cie had hit

ng her down and pulling her back into their world out of s

't seen it for what it was until every

no intention of bei

pretending you get to decide anything about me." Her ey

careless curve t

ou were going to hand

naged to hold h

to let go of i

anged by Richard and Elaine for her. It wasn't just a space. It was proof o

rds were a

ly make everything she'd

he drew in a breath and forced a fra

e snapped up instantl

ear-bright eyes while steadying her tone as best she could. "She spent so ma

licker of emotion crossed he

uld bend herself into anything if it

just how

You heard her. Your dear Cathy was the one who offered