ley

works from scratch, designed water purification systems, and learned to rely only on myself. I thought coming home would be

s eyes always seemed to be looking for his next corporate move. And Chandra, my orphaned cousin, had somehow

mansion, an invisible ghost. One evening, I heard their voices from

er' s soft voice soothed. "Bailey just h

to me anymore. She says my ideas for the charity gala are 'superficial' and

s been. Your ideas are wonderful, darling. So much more practical and pleasing than Bailey' s com

... difficult. She doesn' t understand the nuances of family life, the impor

r a new environmental sensor I' d been working on. It felt ice cold, mirroring the c

it now, their voices hushed but filled with scorn. "It' s just a fit of pique," my father

s all Chandra' s fault, really. If

. "Bailey is just being Bailey. Always the contrarian. She thinks she' s above us

their attention, their love, flashed before my eyes. The countless arguments, the whispered criticisms, the way they alwa

lute click. I wasn't just tired of fighti

circuit board still cold in my hand. I started packing. Not just clothes, bu

o. We agreed to meet at a quiet c

le, well-fitting dark shirt and trousers, his hair neatly combed back. He looked... different. Sh

out a chair for me. "Bailey." H

mix of unease and curiosity. "I...

s gaze steady. "Y

nd you accepted. I'

is lips. "Good. I wouldn

t know much about you," I admitted. "You' r

"That' s one of my roles, yes. Bu

ing. I have some savings. We can use it to arrange something. Simple,

hat, Bailey. I' ll take care of th

sure? I don' t wan

gh with this, Bailey? Are you doing this just to spite

or me. I' m done with them. But if you' re scared, Da

." He leaned forward, his eyes twinkling. "I just want to make sure you' re as de

ey. I' ll come for you. And it won' t be a simple affair. It