's

===

like an intruder. The table was set beautifully, as always-my adoptive mother, Diane, prided he

smile radiant as she regaled everyone with st

tite were long gone. But Diane had insisted I come to this

ide, "tell us again about that time you met

ir behind her ear. "Mr. Callahan. He's a genius, honestly.

s sparkled as she leaned forward. "You've alw

fork scraping against the plate

dripping with false sweetness. "How's your.

d. I'd told her during her first week back in the family,

ng manager," I

ing interest. "Oh, right. Mar

," I replied, forc

tion in her eyes. She loved these little digs, these

"Mia, dear, maybe you could learn a thing or two from R

t years trying to earn Diane's approval, only for it t

ld," I said, my

udden exclamation

with a bottle of wine in hand, looking every bit the char

flashing his trademark smil

g as she motioned for him to sit beside Rachel.

't even looked at me, hadn'

she said something I couldn't hear and Ethan chuckled, his ha

d, "I heard the engagement is off. That must'

-he'd say something to defend me. But he just smirked, l

s voice smooth and detached. "Some

r eyes gleamed with triumph. "I'm sure you'l

digging into the wood realizing this was

" I said, forcing my

smissive. "Still, it's a shame. Ethan and Rachel have s

to me. I felt like I was being dissec

scraping against the floor. "Exc

oment to collect myself. The humiliation bur

ps and I turned, expecting Dia

ou want?"

s smirk infuriatingly smug. "You'

sts clenched. "You hav

g with condescension. "It's not li

ed on me,"

boring, Mia. Always so uptight, always trying t

pected, but I refused to let h

" I said coldly. "I'm done with yo

t. The cold night air hit me like an arrow from bow, but it

the thoughts of me losing Ethan and the family

of it all, that was