Chapter 1

My entire family forced me to divorce because the girl they raised as their own fell in love with my husband.

Six years later, I ran into my brother and ex-husband at the park.

My ex-husband was holding my seven-year-old daughter, and he asked me:

"Now that you're back in the country, why didn't you reach out?"

I looked at him, cold as ice:

"Want to buy a painting? Twenty dollars a piece."

My brother Blake came over and kicked my easel, sending it flying:

"Stop acting innocent! Felicia already forgave you for causing her miscarriage. Now she's been outed as a homewrecker, and it'll mess with her chances for the award. Come back with us and clear her name, and I'll let you come home."

I sneered:

"Home? That stopped being my home a long time ago."

My ex-husband, Ryan, pointed to the daughter in his arms and said:

"Are you really going to abandon your own daughter?"

Before I could answer, Lily spoke up, her voice dripping with disgust:

"I don't want this mommy! Her hands are so creepy!"

Ryan's gaze lingered on my scarred wrists.

He took a step closer, as if to reach out and touch me.

"Enough, Aria, stop with the drama. You used to adore kids."

A bitter taste filled my mouth.

Lily didn't even recognize me anymore.

My brother, Blake, frowned, kicking over my change box. His voice was laced with impatience.

"Why are you even talking to her? Just drag her away."

"If we weren't worried about the PR nightmare affecting Felicia's award chances, who'd want to come to this dump?"

Blake's arrogance, the kind only old money breeds, was seeping from him.

I bent down to pick up the change box that had rolled into the mud, my voice calm and steady.

"I'm not going back."

At that, Blake exploded like a lit fuse, and it tore through me.

"Aria, don't you dare push your luck. Are you shacked up with some guy here? Can't bear to leave him?"

Hearing that, Ryan's previously mild expression darkened instantly.

He seemed to agree with Blake.

He grabbed my wrist with one hand and started dragging me out of the park.

A sharp, throbbing pain shot through my wrist.

The change box clattered to the ground, ten and fifty-dollar bills scattering across the dirt.

"Ryan, let go of me! I'm not going back with you!"

He ignored me completely.

Blake strode forward, stepping on the bills on the ground, grinding them into the mud.

"Meow!"

An orange blur darted out from the bushes.

It lashed out with sharp claws, scratching Ryan's arm.

Seizing the chance, I managed to break free.

But as I turned, Blake kicked me in the knee.

With a soft thump, I fell to my knees.

Here I was, knocked down by Blake.

There, the little cat was sent flying several feet away.

I scrambled to get up, large tears splashing onto the ground.

"Little One!"

I took one step, but Ryan and Blake caught me together.

They dragged me forward.

My struggles were useless.

My stray cat lay in a pool of blood.

The money I'd saved for a burial plot lay in the mud.

Just like I had six years ago.