t midway, leaving the rest

made sure the registration was pro

, her expression brightening the mome

and Silas are back, we'll all sit

were Jolie's adopted so

the two boys in when she st

e often kept others at a distance, Simon

n more familiar with the two brothers

stance, only a meek

Mary, I haven't finished school yet. Would

rity had pushed her to abandon her ed

s and contempt made her

rly-if she wanted to reclaim her mother's things, she

es you everything you need. Why take unnecessary risks? If something happens to the bab

itation crossed

ing outweighed the

Mary, I'd never risk the babies. I just want

d almost demure, the

med her chest. She gave a small dip of her head in ag

ly, though determination flashed

oing back to school-she want

er for as long as s

eft ear, bullied her relentless

had even taken her

o drag Alina into the open and grind

b, saying nothing about her

he left before dawn and often didn't come back unti

aw no reas

ning, she we

e school gates, a tall fig

u come to the private ro

, and for a moment the world tilted, as i

ere was Eth

boy who teamed up with Alina to torment her-bully

idn't know abou

dness was real, convinced

ght Alina locked her in a suffocating basement, wher

, accusing her of flaunting Caleb's child

ing but an orphan daring to

nly place for her, and her chil

in Caleb's bed, he claimed, he never would have miss

cruel truth-that the boy she grew up wit

Lilliana's eyes, leav

dy as she asked, "