Burned Alive, Reborn Anew

e flushed with a mixture of annoyance and excitement. She h

s," she commanded, not looking at me. She was a

d. I just watched her. "I

dinner. Grandma wants to see the baby. She wants to see us. The perfect fam

d never encountered before. It unnerved her. She was used to

me, it wasn't mine. It was the landline in the master suite's sitting area,

answer that call. But I was in the living room then,

rruption, stalked over to t

he Reed r

oming. Her expression shifted from irritation

s this? This

ckles were white

grandmother?

with panic. Lucas, sensing her

you wan

million? Are you insane? We don't have

er hesitate. The voice on the other end must have said somet

y god, Grandma

cause of all this, chose that moment to walk in. He must have been waiting downstairs. He

on, Liv? I h

ly tried to take the phone. "G

away from him. "They have my grandmo

take the child from her, to free her up to deal with the call, but she

t with panic. The arrogant swagger was gone, replaced by the

, or they'll... they'll

dge of the bed, a calm island in her storm of chaos. A switch flipp

ce suddenly sharp and com

laughed.

ne who is supposed to keep us safe! You have to fix th

that my resources were her resources. The complete disrega

I said

stared at me as if I

sputtered, stepping forward. "He

"You know Olivia's spending habits. Most of my liquid assets are gone. The rest is tie

a's face, replaced by pure rage. "Y

red of waiting, must have shou

the line!" she

! We saw your boyfriend here," the voice sneered, and I knew he meant Ethan, "driving his new Ferrari. We saw

d. "Olivia, please! Just give them what they want! They

air. Ethan paled, looking l

d was racing, trying to find a way out that didn'

she made

. "Call your father. Call your friends. Get

f and her grandmother. The first crack

rushing out of the room, his bravado completely gone. Olivia was left

already failed her. And for the first time in fi