little adult, thinking out lo

a bit before it clicked. "Yeah! James

conversation, she'd prob

hem. The only time Ella heard his name was w

ed the tablet on the table and typed

that popped up made h

t, but now that he could see the picture clearly. thi

James had gotten married seven year

tionship history, the timeline totally lined up. Ther

thrilled. He had

ting back together, they had to

suddenly rubbed her ear with a frown. "Weird," she muttered.

ment. She picked it up, "

is voice shaking slightly. "I saw them a

started putting on her shoes while trying to steady her brother, "Stay calm, and don't do

ushed to the kids' room to

obediently, no

behind her, then sped off in her ca

had turned it into a whole new place. Tall bu

dle of the night, the whole area was brightl

f you had some skills,

wasn't enough. You had to hustle hard. Some ma

right now. She just wanted to get

leek, and packed with people cutting business deals. Maria hadn't been back in f

called her brother, followed the GPS, and found

d pulled her into a corner, lowering his voi

nce, Maria couldn't make out much-j

hey doing?"

n North City's business scene. No clue how they even got in

Richard and his wife had gone bankrupt and vanis

I need to make a call,

re the couple's sudden wealth came from, though she didn't

ruction: Investigate the busi

doing back in North City this time

how they'd abandoned her and her brother

't wrap my head around it-how any parent can walk away f

Only around his sister did he sh

taken their parents' sudde

t, then Maria got forced into divorce by her mo

ering those days made

en her brother

but that night, she handed him the bottle

verseas. Come with me. A change of

a bit, then took a long

blings drank thems

had to wake them up. They ended up cr

Maria withdrew D

y goodbye to his friends, but he

idn't know how to face the