few months af
their public displays of affection grating
more. I ended up at a downtown L.
mpany, just a quiet cor
Is tha
younger sister, stood there,
cues. She was smart, a tech prodigy already making wave
ened. About her work, about a ridiculous rea
hat felt like an eternity, I wasn't thi
sisted on driving me home in my own car, desp
rly sideswiped a parked car, and then got
I found myself laughi
es, hikes in Griffith Park, late-night coding sessi
right, warm, genuine. She didn't play
ling parts of me I
and Dad a
hink. Dad clapped me on the sho
for dinner. We'd love to meet the young woma
red her
t. A family dinner, with O
. "A toast," he announced. "To Etha
tate plans. Your mother and I have decided that the family assets, includ
ening, suddenly straightened. A
mmed her
than isn't even your real son! He's
hat followed
. Mom gasped, her han
ned a dangerou
oice dangerously low. "
adopted one! I heard you and
hair scraping loudl
e like ice. "You are mistaken.
ng over all of us, lingeri
re the one who
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