Rising from the ash

er 3:

cognized Ryan's voice. She turned slowly,

her voice shaking

t. "Don't you dare lie to me, Sophia!" he yelled. "Lana showed me the proof

ssion perfectly masked with pity. "I never thought you'd stoop th

, Lana!" she screamed, rising from her seat. "You for

yan, you see how delusional she is? She

boiling anger. "Enough of your

Ryan stormed past her and grabbed th

hia screamed, r

and unforgiving. "This bastard doesn

desperate prayer. "Please, Ryan, don't do this.

and betrayal. He opened the urn and be

rward, her hands clawing at the ashes as they scattered. The gray powder c

ling with sorrow. "My baby," she sobbed, her voice

ng. Lana stood behind him, a triumphant smirk flashing b

e air, hoarse and gut-wrenching, yet Ryan loomed over her, his features i

tone dripping with disdain. "Ryan,

le-guilt or regret, maybe-but was quickly subdued by the heaviness of Lana's

not laced with any of the love it used to be fille

ith the ashes, sticking to her skin and clothes, further degrading her. Sophia gasped at

with newfound strength. Her tear-streaked face lifted to meet Ryan's c

picture of grief and anger. Ryan and Lana had long since turned the

g her arm through his. "We don't wan

he car. Lana threw a last smirk at Sophia before she disappe

despair. "Ryan Walsh, Lana-you both will regret this! I swear!" Her voice reverberate

her sobs. Her head jerked faintly toward the side, taken aback as a shiny black car pulled within feet

moving with precision and calculation-like people who had received military training-they remained

s was a man of power. He commanded attention at every turn of his head. With the h

towards him a little. There was just something about

ked upon her crumpled form. She felt the weight of his

e her. In silence, the man slowly dropped

fusion and unease. For the first time that day, she felt something she hadn't e

r child clinging to her trembling form. Her mind was a haze of grief, rage, and hum

d filled with a strange mixture of reg

m right. "Who... who are you ?" she sta

replied, "I'm your brother, Landon Sullivan. And you

meaning of his words. Heiress? Brother? Sullivan family? She sta

aised his hand to his temple in a sharp, formal salute. The motion w

e same thing in tandem. Their salutes were in perfect sync, thei

y shook, not just because of the cold water soaking

nd resolute. "Sophia, everything you've been

er the strain. "I don't understand. Why n

"All your questions shall be answered, but just for now, b

question him further, but the gravity of his presence, t

d questions. Landon sat beside her, calm yet commanding. He did not say much as the ride continued and gave

e the curve in the road unfolded what only a fairy tale estate might hold: sprawling and elaborate mansion co

hey were all so well-dressed; from where she stood, it seemed their faces all spoke of wonder, curiosit

ed suit said, bowing slightly. He sounded like

as she hesitated. "Home?" s

ia, this is where you belong. It's time for you to take y

nto polite applause. Sophia's heart pounded as faces blurred a

finally

ll these

van legacy

ce cut thro

e gown, she crossed her arms, sharp eyes narrowing on Sophia. "Is this the so-called

voice was icy, lethal. "Careful, Margare

omething under her breath befo

ed entirely unfazed. "What is all this?"

o hers with an intensity that made her shiver. "Sophia, you've lived in the shadows for too long. The Sulliva

er a word, the heavy doors opened, and a large marble hall fi

id. "There's much

by scan hidden in her pocket, and stepped into her new

n Wals

he carried her bag. Her face was emotionless, b

her as she marched toward the sleek black car parked outsi

For a moment, Ryan thought she might relent, but