Chapter 4

My hand shook, and the ink bled across the page.

Samuel came out of the study, his face unreadable. "Stay upstairs."

I hurried to the railing. "He's going to make a scene."

"Let him."

Downstairs, my father was cursing badly.

He called me an ungrateful brat, said my mother was sick, and accused me of disgracing the White family by living with some stranger.

He shouted, "If you don't come home with me, I'll kick your mother out onto the street!"

A chill ran through me.

Samuel opened the door.

My father reeked of booze, his beard a tangled mess.