Shattered Party, Fierce Comeback

an event my adoptive father, David, had insisted on making the talk of the town. For most of my life, I was Chloe Sterling, the cherished daughter of the Sterling empir

warmth I was used to

om a poor background our family was paying to put through university. She stood near the grand piano, looki

arted over a di

ust enough for everyone nearby to hear. "It was a gif

e. The implication was as

tely stepped in front of her,

see it? Melody i

nship. His face was tight with a familiar resentment. He had always felt lik

heap bracelet, Ryan,"

elling in her eyes instantly. "It was the f

s expression one of paternal disa

r guest. If you saw something, just

m public life, he and Ryan had increasingly treated me like an inconvenience, while showering Melody with att

and her mother, Sarah, who had a history with my father lon

Why would I want her bracelet when my m

They were meant to remind them who held the

t made me sound like a spoiled princ

g red. "You've always had everything, and you can't s

" David commanded, hi

He was ordering me. In front of all these people. For a crime

id, my chi

ft sob, hiding her

s all i

and the sound of it connecting with my cheek

l

The guests gasped. My own stepbrother had hit me. At my own birthday part

locking onto Ryan's. I didn't cry. I

arted murmuring, their eyes filled

ered me near the deserted terrace. The tears w

love me more. Soon, everything that is yours will be mine. This hous

plain and ugly as her cheap dress. She thought my mother's absence meant

d smile touc

my voice barely a whisper. "You h

ore she regained her composure. But I had seen it. She had no idea who s