Chapter 1

When I was six, I was getting ready to go to school in Eastbrook.

Mom took my hand and secretly slipped a note. "Be good, Darcy. Give this to the officer at the station, and I promise I'll do anything you want," she whispered.

I gazed up at her with wide, innocent eyes. "Really? I wish we could be together forever."

Mom gently stroked my hair, her voice trembling as she tried not to cry. "Alright, sweetheart. I promise," she whispered.

When the officer came to take Mom away, he pointed at me and asked, "Are you taking her with you?"

Mom glanced at me like I was nothing to her and said coldly, "I don't know her." Then she turned and walked away, never once looking back.

But Mom, didn't you say we'd never be apart?

*****

Half a year later, I saw them on TV. It was a business show, and there were pictures of Tyne and Colin on the screen.

The host said they were the youngest and most successful entrepreneurs in Eastbrook.

I didn't really know what an entrepreneur was, but I just thought, if I could find Tyne and Colin, maybe I could find Mom too.

With just my little cloth bag and everything I owned inside, I made my way straight to the address I'd seen on TV, hoping it would lead me to Tyne and Colin.

The building was massive, its glass walls glittering under the afternoon sun.

Before I could take more than a few steps inside, a security guard in a crisp uniform blocked my way.

"Hey, kid, who are you looking for?" he asked. He checked me out from head to toe, like he thought I was about to make trouble.

"I'm looking for my aunt and uncle," I said.

He scoffed. "No aunt or uncle here, kid. Go on, get out of here—don't make a scene."

I panicked and dug out a piece of paper I'd kept carefully folded, clutching it close as I handed it over. It was my only treasure.

"Just give this to them—once they see it, they'll know," I begged him.

He snatched it away, barely even looking as he unfolded it, obviously annoyed.

It was a drawing of three people—my mom, my aunt Tyne, and me together.

Mom had secretly sketched it, hidden it away, and eventually saved it just for me.

The security guard's expression changed a bit when he saw the drawing, then he glanced at me again.

"Wait here," he said. Then he took the drawing and picked up the phone to make a call.

Not long after, the elevator doors slid open. Tyne and Colin stepped out.

Just like on TV, they wore those fancy clothes and had that same icy look, making me feel even smaller.

Their eyes fixed on me, cold and appraising—there wasn't the slightest trace of joy you'd expect from seeing family. I felt their stare like an ice-cold shower.

My heart was pounding, and my fingers twisted so tightly together I thought I'd never untangle them—I was completely lost.

Just then, a woman slowly emerged from behind them. It was Mom.

"Mom," I shouted. My tears finally spilled over—I dashed toward Mom, sobbing uncontrollably.

I just wanted to throw my arms around her, to tell her how much I missed her.

The instant her eyes landed on me, her face went completely pale. She let out a shrill scream, like she'd just seen her worst nightmare come to life.

"Stay away from me," Mom screamed. She jumped back, hiding behind Colin, her whole body trembling, her eyes filled with terror and loathing.

I froze in place, my hand stuck helplessly in midair.

Colin took a heavy step forward and roughly shoved me aside. He was so strong that I landed right on my backside, sprawling helplessly on the floor.

"Listen up—you need to stay away from her. Don't you dare ever show your face around here again," Colin barked.

Tyne shot me a look of pure disgust. "Get lost," she spat.

Then, without another word, they huddled around Mom, still shaking, and marched straight for the elevator.

Just like that, I was left behind—dumped in the company lobby like worthless trash.

The people around started pointing fingers and whispering, making me shrink back in embarrassment.