Chapter 0140


    At eleven, | walk through the door to the garages, a sigh on my lips. | see Jerome immediately, waiting by one of the ck cars.


    He gives me a big smile, which | return unenthusiastically. It’s not him — | just...really don’t want to go to lunch at my father’s


    house.


    Jerome gives me an understanding little grimace as he opens the back door for me and | climb in.


    “You doing all right?” he calls over his shoulder as opens the driver’s door and sits down in the front seat, genuinely curious.


    “Just ready for this to be over,” | say back to him, leaning my head back and closing my eyes. Jerome makes a little grunt of


    understanding and begins to pull out of the garage and down the driveway.


    When we''re on the road, | pull out my burner phone to send some long-dyed texts. | feel safe using it in my room, but not


    really anywhere else in the house. Not that my room is really safe anyway — Kent is very likely to have it checked daily, after the


    note from Fiona.


    Still, better safe than sorry.Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    I''m pleased when | see that a text from Ivan is waiting.


    Ivan: Good morning, beautiful. | hope you slept well. Any chance | get to see you tonight?


    I sigh, really wanting to say yes, but knowing it’s impossible.


    Fay: Sorry, already have ns. Send me a pic so | know how desperately sad this news makes you.


    |ugh, a few secondster, when Ivan sends me a picture of him with an exaggerated frown, tracing a finger down his cheek


    like a tear. Jerome looks curiously at me in the rearview mirror so | do my best to wipe my face clean, not wanting him to know


    what I’m up to. Then, | reply to Ivan.


    Fay: You''re pretty even when you’re sad. Check in with meter.


    Then, I’m pleased to see a text from Janeen pop onto the screen. I’m eager to see it — she never texts first unless she has a


    good reason for it.


    Janeen: Lawyer came by this morning — gave us the deed to the house! Dad was so thrilled he cried. Wish you were here to see


    it. Lawyer also gave us a list of potential beach properties — insane!


    Apicture of a gigantic white and blue beach house pops up next, along with her assessment.


    Janeen: This one is my fav, though I’m really looking for one with a hot tub.


    | stifle myugh by biting my lip, but | can’t help the smile that bursts out on my face. A bad lunch with my dad is definitely worth


    it, if | can make my sister and my dad this happy. Quickly, | type a reply.


    Fay: Pick whichever one you want. But the biggest bedroom is for me. Don’t forget who got you that beach house.


    Janeen’s reply is prompt.


    Janeen: Or how you got it! Proud of you sis. Make that $$$.


    She ends the text with the emojis of a


    cat with heart eyes, a pee ciclo k


    Ratt inbination, make


    rho bles .| tuck my phone away,


    newly bolstered for the afternoon


    ahead of me. Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    We pull up to my father’s house not


    long after and | see my stepmother


    Tristin waiting by the daar, herathig


    cragsert itile Romhblus stands next


    to her, waving enthusiastically. |


    smile at him, grateful that at least


    someone is happy to see me. Please


    read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    When | step out of the car, Romulus


    dashes to me, wra jag dis ar


    ynd mivdeglh''gréeting, Please


    read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    “Hey kid!” | say,ughing and ruffling his hair.


    “Hi, sister!” he exims, grinning up at me. “I missed you! Why did you stay away?”