I snorted with laughter. Your modesty is overwhelming
“Modesty is for people who aren’t ridiculously handsome kings.
The absurd confidence in his voice made me giggle despite everything. My stomach unknotted slightly.
Edward pulled through Crawford Manor’s wrought iron gates. The circular driveway looked exactly the same flowerbeds, the marble fountain where I’d made childhood wishes. cream-colored gravel, perfectly manicured
The SUV stopped in front of the main entrance. Caelan helped me out, his fingers lingering on mine.
Remember what I said. Two minutes.”
Til time you
He pressed a soft kiss to my forehead before climbing back into the vehicle. I watched the SUV disappear down the driveway, taking my security blanket with
Deep breath. You can do this.
I walked up the familiar stone steps and reached for the door handle.
Locked.
Right. I don’t live here anymore.
I pressed the doorbell and waited, shifting from foot to foot like a nervous stranger.
Footsteps approached from inside. The heavy oak door swung open.
Mary stood in the doorway. She was holding a feather duster, probably in the middle of her afternoon cleaning routine.
For a moment, we just stared at each other.
Then her brown eyes filled with tears.
“My little miss!” Mary’s voice cracked with emotion. She dropped the duster, reaching out with trembling hands like she couldn’t quite believe I was real.
“Oh, my sweet girl…”
The dam broke. We flew into each other’s arms, holding on like drowning people finding shore.
Mary’s familiar lily perfume surrounded me as she stroked my hair. “You’re so thin, child. These years… you’ve suffered, haven’t you?”
Tears spilled down my cheeks. “Mary, I missed you so much.”
“Come in, come in!” She pulled back to examine my face, hands cupping my cheeks like I was still ten years old. ‘Let me look at you properly.”
She ushered me through the foyer, still gripping my hands like I might disappear.
“Have you been eating enough? Working too hard?”
The questions tumbled out faster than I could answer.
To fine, really. I love my work. Helping people, saving lives.”
Mary’s face glowed with pride. I knew it. I always knew our little miss would do something wonderful. When you said you wanted to heal people, I knew you’d make it happen
“Sabelate!
The excited squeal echoed from the marble staircase. A small figure in a pink princess dress came flying down the steps, brown curls bouncing with each step
Daisy My little sister. My father and my stepmother Victoria’s daughter.
My chest tightened as she launched herself toward me, arms spread wide for a hug.
I stepped back instinctively.
Daisy’s nickname for me had always been special – a combination of my name and her obsession with chocolate. Only she called me that. She had always looked at me with such uncomplicated adoration.
Daisy crashed into my legs anyway, wrapping her small arms around my waist.
“You came home! I missed you so, so much!”
Her joy was pure and infectious. It should have melted my heart.
Instead, I stood frozen, my body rigid as she squeezed me.
…Hi, Daisy.
She pulled back to beam up at me, gap-toothed smile bright enough to power the city.
“Daddy said you went to live somewhere else! Where did you go? Did you miss me? Did you bring me presents?”
“I lived in another city. I worked at a hospital.”
“Wow! That’s so cool!” Her eyes went wide with hero worship. “Can you fix my dolly? Her arm broke and she’s really sad about it.”
“I only treat real patients.”
Daisy’s face fell immediately.
“Oh…” She looked down at her feet. “Sorry.”
Mary cleared her throat. “Miss Sable just got home, sweetheart. She’s very tired from traveling. Why don’t you let your sister rest?”
Mary’s interruption saved me from having to respond to Daisy’s wounded expression.
Guilt twisted through my chest as I saw the hurt in her innocent eyes. She didn’t understand why her big sister was being so cold. She’d done nothing
Wrong
But every time I looked at Daisy, all I could see was the timeline that had shattered my world. Ten years old. Born the same year Mom died. Which meant Dad was already with Victoria before Mom died. He had been cheating on her.
While Mom was fighting for her life in that hospital bed, Dad had been with another woman. Victoria had been pregnant with his child while my mother was dying
How long had it been going on? Did Mom know about it?
“Sabelate?’ Daisy’s voice came out small and uncertain Are you mad at me?”
I looked down at her upturned face. Brown eyes exactly like Dads. The same stubborn chin. Even the way she tilted her head when confused mirrored his mannerisms perfectly.
She’s his daughter. Just like I am.
I’m not mad at you, I managed.
It was the truth I wasn’t angry at Daisy. But I couldn’t bring myself to be warm either. Every time I looked at her, I saw the timeline of Dad’s betrayal playing out in my mind.
The sharp click of heels against marble echoed from above. Victoria appeared at the top of the staircase, then descended, her expression shifting to motherly concern as she approached.
Oh, sweetheart, Victoria cooed, kneeling beside Daisy and smoothing her curls. ‘Don’t look so sad. Some people just need time to adjust when they come home, especially when they’re… not used to being around family anymore.”
Victoria’s eyes flicked up to meet mine with sympathy.
“Mary, Victoria called softly, “why don’t you take Daisy outside? The fresh air would do her good after all this… tension.”
Mary nodded quickly, clearly eager to remove the child from whatever storm was brewing. “Come along, Daisy.”
As soon as the front door closed behind them, Victoria’s mask slipped slightly.
“Really, Sable,” she said, her voice taking on a disappointed edge. “I understand you’re going through a difficult time, but taking it out on an innocent child? That’s beneath even you.”
She paused, letting the criticism sink in before continuing with false warmth.
“But welcome home, dear. We’ve all been so… worried about you.”
The pause before worried was deliberate. Like she’d considered other words first. Concerned? Frustrated? Angry?
I ignored her and was about to walk past her. But she stopped me.
“Three years is such a long time.” Victoria smiled. “You look… different. More mature. I hope life outside taught you some valuable lessons.”
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