y Win

screen, my hands trembling as I refreshed

ine store, se

pieces I had just watched parade d

they had pric

rked "Exclusive Windsor Couture Collection." My collection. And they were

sation settled in my

grabbed my phone a

ary, darling, it's late. What is it?"

ine. Under Windsor Couture." I whis

en a soft, amused chu

t. Is that what

. you knew. You let them steal my work, s

is business. Your designs are doing wonderfully, and isn't that what truly matters? Besi

his to me?" my voice cracked

in this tantrum, Hilary. We are family. You should be grateful y

ne wen

n my hand, my vision bl

tef

I had been the overlooked one, the disposable one. The daughter who wa

y here. I need

heavier with every mile. By the time I reached the house, exhaustion c

stepped inside. The house was quiet, the faint glow of t

I needed to talk to him

droom, my hand on the d

was sp

il

am

our

bare back pressed against his chest,

efused to move. My brai

iam shifting made m

gasp escap

groggily before wideni

ue," I whispered, my vo

ore she sat up, her face shifting from sleepiness t

be home yet," she murmure

the bed, reaching for me.

omach twisting violent

u were going to do this to me?" M

mouth, but n

stronger. Years flashed before my eyes. Those la

ons about him and Emily, bu

alway

his chest with my fists, each blow barely mo

ded. I collapsed t

d above m

gh. "Oh, come on, Hilary

her, something inside

me. Always swallowed my words, a

anym

The tears still burned, but i forced them

ed into fists. "I hope you enjoy my leftove

rned and

fter me. I didn't wait to

st w

f the life I had let th

t remember pulling up to the dimly

that I needed

d smoke clinging to the air. I slid onto a

strong,"

aced in front of me before downi

came a deep, smooth

met piercing

k hair, a sharp jaw, and a shirt that fit him to

gged my memory, but I

t's the

nd unreadable. A slow smirk

ad this reckless

rning toward him fully

studying me. "Want

murmured. I just