a plate. The murmur of happy vo

my eyes fl

e ring box open. Leo was beside me, beaming. An

angelic longing. "I've wanted a mom for so long. We can be a re

Old c

memory of venom, of my son's last terrified

my hand. Her touch was c

if I' d been burned. I shoved myself

word was flat, d

e a mask of confusion and

der. "I'm not ready for a new family. And

r a fraction of a second, a flicker of cold fury in her

stood up. "Sarah! How can you be so crue

" his brother added, point

s, clutching her father's leg. "Please, Sarah! Don't d

the poor, rejected child. I was the villain. The c

ith the kneeling girl. My voice wa

Lily. But I'm not intereste

breathtaking moment, I saw the same malevolent intel

t looked like a confused,

grabbing Leo's ha

ed and on the verge of tears.

most poisonous. Like some mushrooms in the forest. They look beautiful, bu

the floor. He didn't understand, but he saw

y, M

s on my back. It wasn't the gaze of a sad little gir