heavy curtains of the guest room, casti
er stomach was a hollow ache, but the thought of going downstairs, of fa
pet. She wandered down the hallway, away from the smell of
air spilled out, carrying the scent o
door open and
h the panes, turning the air golden. Plants of every size and
y were
littl
ome
ll like
es and humming sap. It was a comforting noise, l
waxy leaves of the rubber plants. She stopped in front of a large orchid sitting
y. You have very clear eyes, the orchid said, its voice
the first one in days. She reached out, her fingertip gen
re you
ice shattere
of the greenhouse, her hands on her hips. She was wearing another
ching down the path. "You're not allowed
zzy whispered,
e stopped right in front of Izzy, her face twisting with
shoved
ow hitting the edge of a terracotta pot. A sharp, biting pain shot up her
was no wind. Its leaves slashed through the air, th
n here?" Evette'
k in the scene-Izzy on the ground, clutching her ar
mbling perfectly. "She was trying to steal my orc
zzy said, her voice
You lying, horrible little beast! How dare y
shadow falling over Izzy.
ached. She bit her lip, hard enough to taste copper,
ad bellowed, his voice bo
hook h
cial worker right now. I'll have you put back in the system. I'll send you
ar of being alone, of being unwanted, of being sent back to the da
he greenhouse
ravel path. Arthur was right behind him, leani
her bleeding elbow, and his jaw muscles jumped. He pulled a c
n said, his voice dangerously quiet. "Beati
lynn is the victim here! You always tak
breaking. "If you care so much, Bryan, why don'
the heavy leaves of the elephant ears flapped like wings. A cacophony of voic
yes were soft as they looked down at her. She looked
de her
heir shocked faces. She walked out of the greenhouse and into the living r
e table itself. She stood there, her smal
t Conrad to
that followed was absolute. Conrad's face turn
o had just walked into the room. Her voice
Bryan to be
e-" Conrad lunged for
e table, blocking Conrad's path. He caught Co
n warned, his voice a l
K. C
way, his chest heaving. He looked at his eldest son with profoun
regret. "If that's what the girl wants, and if you two are so
rapped her arms around his leg, burying her face in his
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