Chapter 3

When I lived on the prairie in my previous life, my adoptive parents never held my hand like this. Their hands were only for bossing me around, or sometimes, hitting me without a second thought.

"Mom, is Sophia here?" a cheerful male voice called out from the foyer.

I looked up and saw a boy, maybe fifteen or sixteen, striding over in a rush.

He had the same sharp eyes and brows as Edward, and his smile was sunny and inviting.

"You must be Sophia," he said, crouching down so we were eye to eye. He introduced, "I'm Ryan, your brother. Welcome home."

That word Home cut deep for me.

I once had a home, parents, and a younger sister until a car accident ripped it all away from me.

After that, out on the prairie, that place never felt like home.

Grace sensed my unease and gave my hand a gentle squeeze. She said, "Don't be nervous, Sophia. We'll give you all the time you need to settle in."

They gave me a tour of the house and finally led me to a room on the second floor.

As I pushed open the door, my breath caught in my throat.

It was an elegant yet inviting space: soft lavender walls, ivory furniture, a bookshelf packed with books, and a brand-new piano sitting by the window.

"Is this really for me?" I asked, my voice full of disbelief.

Grace said with a gentle smile, "Of course. We tried to make it just right for a girl your age. If there's anything you don't like, we can always change it."

I stepped up to the window, letting my fingers glide across the polished surface of the brand-new piano.

When I lived on the grasslands, the only music I knew was the wind and the cries of sheep.

"Do you like music?" Ryan asked, leaning against the doorframe.

I nodded, then shook my head, a little embarrassed. I said, "I've never had the chance to learn."

Edward walked in and said, "That's perfect. We've already set up music lessons for you. They start next week. And if there's anything else you want to learn, just tell us."

Having someone actually support and encourage me like this almost brought tears to my eyes.

Out on the grasslands, the only thing I was ever allowed to learn was how to herd sheep, and nothing else.

I said softly, "I want to study. I want to learn everything I can."

Grace's eyes glistened with tears as she came over and wrapped me in a hug. She said, "Sweetheart, you can learn anything your heart desires."

That night, I lay in my soft, cozy bed, staring up at the star-shaped nightlight on the ceiling, sleep refusing to come.

It all felt almost unreal, and I was afraid that if I closed my eyes, I'd wake up back in that old tent on the grasslands, surrounded by Martha and Frank's snores and the constant bleating of sheep.

At the same time, Emily's presence kept haunting my thoughts.

I wondered what she was doing right now and if she had even realized what her choice really meant.

Out on the vast grasslands far, far away, Emily was about to spend her very first night in this whole new life.

"You'll be sleeping here," Martha said gruffly as she shoved open a creaky wooden door, revealing a cramped, dim room. The air was thick with the stench of mold and livestock.

Emily covered her nose, staring in disbelief at the hard bed and the thin, almost see-through blanket. She exclaimed, "Seriously? How am I supposed to sleep here?"

Martha shot her a cold look and said, "What, you think this is some fancy hotel? If you don't like it, go sleep with the sheep."

Emily bit her lip, forcing herself not to cry.

She thought about the gorgeous Whitmore residence and remembered the way Sophia had smirked at her in the car. A pang shot through her heart.

She muttered to herself, "It's just a place to crash for now. Once I find Lucas, I'm out of this hellhole."