xa'

che in my chest. It was the same ache I felt every time I remembered what ha

ounger model. The divorce ripped our family apart. The

smile that never seemed to falter. She was twenty years younger than him, an

she seemed to fit into his life so effortlessly. And how sh

he had these episodes, these sudden bursts of anger, and she'd lash out at every

he did to Mom. He was supposed to be her rock, her suppor

ood," he'd said, his voice a hollow echo of the man I

e company from the ground up. She was the one who had the vision, th

and she convinced Dad to take over. She was supposed to be just a model hired for the runway show, b

blamed myself for being too young, t

life, her identity, her legacy. An

l enough. But it had all gone to hell when Dad gave Elsie the new CEO. I was so sure that C

bedtime. There had to be something I could do. But I was j

hose soap operas she was obse

her on the couch, "I wanted to

the soap o

I told her about Elsie and how she'd taken over the company. Mom w

r voice laced with concern. "Claire and that

said, "but I

h me everything I needed to know about the company, ab

s just like your father. Even though he never supported your father from divorc

rt sinking, "But he had

father did to us? It's complicated, Ale

uilding in my chest. I

e to. Dad asked him to teach me. If I lea

xa..." s

the company back to you,

am. You don't think I would have fought for what was mine if I

red me that it was o

e everything I needed to know. What to do about ou

handsome. Even as a kid, I'd felt a pull towa

n. He had become a constant presence in my life, a source of strength and support. He was the one who'd

me mesmerized for minutes. His touch had sent shivers down my spine. What he said about

t my feelings get in the way and complica

hard. It wa