xa
gainst my ribs, still reeling from the stranger's sharp, electric touch. I kept my eyes forward, we
still
ng the crowd, his dark, dead
waved for a taxi, sliding into the worn l
n. Now,"
ainst the seat and pulled out my phone an
's smile. The way they moved together, as if t
nths, maybe longer. Every late night and solo
. By the time the cab reached the Alexander Pack Manor's gates, I had settled my resol
the scent of lilies and floor wax greeted me, mixed with b
noise and paused i
Kenda sipped tea. Floyd and Charlotte lounged comfortably on
shaking as he set down his drink. Charlotte insta
orried about you wit
nnocent mask slipped for a split second be
paper onto the coffee t
spect your sister l
n't a
ropped the dashcam footage to the livin
voice fill
'm better
idn't h
. God...
gasp escaped Kenda. Her teacup slipped from her trembling hands an
one moved.The color dr
voice cracked. "Ple
d toward Barret. Then she collapsed onto her knees, burying her face in her h
was, my arms fold
e, I felt almost
e desperate performance.What I hadn'
y uncle.The man who had stood beside my father's h
him to keep
wo traitors ou
rom disbelief... to sho
nmistakable rage.For one brief moment, hope
eyes cooled in
, his gaze left Floy
inside
ne thick finger and po
the coffee table, "By exposing our family's flaws on a TV screen like a reality show
y betrayal or my pain. He only cared about scandal, stock pri
ur fault, Alexa! Your coldness and obsession with work pushed Floyd awa
s audacity lef
d said, his voice becoming more confident, "Alexa, you've never been emotionally invested. I tried. God k
ng down her cheeks. "Sister, I didn't intentionally
ront of his shirt. He looked at Floyd, then
ett coldly announced, "the enga
. The sound scraped my throat. "Y
transferred to Charlotte. She and Floyd are clearly a better match. T
lexa, you need to make concessions for your sister's hap
king her hand. He looked at me, hi
s way. But you and I were never meant t
uth and paint me as the villain. Years of trying to prove myself, of swallowing m
settle over me. No tears, no
my lips, never reaching my
ilent. "Okay?" Charlotte r
ozen in their petty victory. No one call
. He had taught me honor and leadership, and he had believed in me. I wa
ed into unshakable fire. I would never beg for a pla
me to pack and leave. They had chosen
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