na's

oom door behind me, the sho

y my stepmother's sharp, disapproving tone. Lily's soft cryi

t the door and

ngs neve

ier, the pattern wa

y c

ther defe

demanded

expected t

I had always do

ot an

tains open. Morning sunlight poured into the

g looked

the same pe

o the acceptance

dge Uni

business schools

ad thrown away ten years

gain, running my fingers

tions, Sere

tter had meant nothing to me

I knew

sn't just ab

bout ind

we

n feet instead of depending o

ation settled i

would go to

would build m

e my family w

fut

my desk and op

s into the past, then I possesse

wle

ng that would happen

arket c

g from nothing to bi

state

hat would reshape

tood at the ce

n Kin

n as his name appeare

ht of it made my

meline, Adrian wa

ompany was still relatively young. Most people saw him as

new the

ould become one of the most pow

would dominate

uld exceed fifty

nce been en

overed above

nt had been arranged th

derstood why Adr

ways been

e, bu

dn't particular

been more charming, more

ered if he would have

mile touch

fool I

ving Lily deserved ever

d never bel

he deserved ev

ding

hair, staring at the

to survive

nted re

neede

entually become one of the m

made my pu

ause of

use of s

Adrian would co

myself with

ilities we

nly interrupt

ste

e body s

i

cou

closed th

me

opened ca

r eyes slightly red as

her well would immediat

e truth behind th

closer to m

.. can w

ded c

ur

my bed, clasping her ha

erstand," sh

trembled

ou change

ted m

ut w

said quickly. "You p

mis

ost l

ast lif

t in t

I asked

bli

n flickered w

school," she insisted. "You said you

ad bee

n

ow little my sacri

ly and walked t

tudy harder,"

tared

ha

dge," I continued, "you should

ace f

didn't

back to l

ly somewh

her face was

re being unfair

fa

echoed in

eight because the person yo

verything for people who

r entire life for som

d close

d up at me

eyes

allowed the cold anger

fair," I s

widened

seen me like

had always been

s pat

illing t

e knew had died

et used to disapp

ood up

now what's wrong w

stbridge," I int

uth fe

re se

es

will never

gged s

his pr

o hit her harder t

time, Lily loo

oment as if trying to figure

rned and walked

ore leaving,

me, the sweetness had di

or a s

I no

e smile

t Lily ever

t regret this,"

closed be

filled t

my desk and opene

ian Kingsley's nam

e spread ac

I mu

nitely

e this

how the futur

to take full