AR

te's minibar. To my satisfaction, the liquor cabinet had a full range of beverages, and it

on my lower lip as the bitter-sweet liquid ran through my throat. I was pretty much having '

on the rug and the glass shattered into pieces. It's like

I bent down and picked u

te. Get up ther

ying this was his personal space? No wonder everything was provided. I shouldn

rm and hauled me up. He dragged me aside. "Do not

alance. Luke almost dwarfed me with his hei

you come ba

oke tuxedo with a letter "A" cufflinks on his dress shirt. His dark hair was roughly brushed up.

him for leaving me earlier and for shouting at me as i

d poured himself the sa

so we could go together to the party like a happy sibling." He drank t

sumed with this man who was such a prick. I sighed. "Then y

e, " he said, ig

out my

r." And just like that, he w

uldn't wait for me. He certainly did not care if I was running for my life just to keep up. He did

ldn't be such an ass. Even if we weren't real sibling

ng with you?

t he could not stop

fault your le

"What did y

up. I was starting to hate him. Unfo

Instead, I stood graciously and fixed my eye

m but didn't respond. He must think so highly of himself. He walked towards a black Bentley on the hotel's main driveway and

s intoxicating scent. I probably went c

rive. I began to worry about myself. I didn't wan

*

two-acre land bore three-story mansion which combined with steel, concrete, wood, and mos

, camera flashes instantly blinded my eyes, and there were hundreds of guests in fancy suits and dresses crowding at

and brought me to the stage with hi

where

and tiny bolts of electricity radiating from him and he w

waiting for something to happen. I serious

ng care of my son, Lucas. But right now as we are celebrating your forty-seventh birthday, I'm going to give you the best I can do, " he paused, making eye contact with my mother, who's wiping her

his arm at me. "Let's welcome Scarlet Carter, my

as the surprise he

lessed with youth. She curled her brunette hair, and she's was wearing a sparkling, emerald evening dress that hugged her

pered. "Go on, she's waiting, " h

I'm not prep

?" he h

epfather called. "Come

his arm and took me to the stage with quivering knees. A round of

, M

arms and squeezed me so tight as if there were no tomorrow for bot

, and cupped my face between her palms and wiped my tears aw

raced her again. "Well, surprise. I