my life. I was sitting at the dining table of my childhood home in a quiet San Jose suburb, a place I had paid for but never felt bel

ng pain, and a doctor' s apologetic voice telling me I was bleeding out. My baby was gone. My l

br

e to meet the family for the first time. In my past life, thi

said, her voice dripping with false concern. "You wor

nemployed, entitled, and a parasite. He believed my success, my company, my money-it was all his f

me. "It' s so amazing what you' ve built, Gabrie

had convinced me to take her "prenatal vitamins." They

my expression li

k of his hand. "Speaking of the c

great idea" that

degree. You should hire her. Maybe a VP of something. S

"Oh, Brian, don' t be sill

ied to be polite, to find a gentle way to

this

n my fork

Brian' s smile vanished

ot hiring your girlfriend for a fake job at my company. She'

the hell is your problem? It' s a

nths? My brother who thinks my success is his personal ban

lamming his fist on the table. He star

"Gabrielle Johns! How dare you s

ough the air and connected with my cheek. The slap was loud and sharp in the sudden quiet

she shrieked. "If you don' t, yo

. I looked at her, then at my father who refused to me

my cheek

her hand still

emotion. "Consider us disowned. Our rela

I could hear my mother screaming my name, but I just kept walking