Not A Small-Town Girl

Chapter 4-1

Dawn painted the sky when Vivian spotted her daughter on the stairs. Her face softened. "Sweetie, you should sleep in-it’s so early."

"I’m used to early hours," Danielle replied. She’d actually been up since five handling business matters, but her mother didn’t need to know that.

"This is your home now. You’re the Darling heiress- your time is your own," Vivian said gently. She and Howard had spent last night weeping in the study after learning the details of their daughter’s hardscrabble life.

"Let’s have breakfast," Vivian said, leading Danielle to the dining table.

The table resembled a five-star buffet, groaning under platters of various dishes-enough to feed an army.

"Try whatever catches your eye," Howard urged fondly. "We weren’t sure what you’d like."

"I’m not picky," Danielle assured them simply.

said. "We’ll host a proper homecoming party soon,

think best,"

don’t we go shopping today?" Vivian’s eyes

Rain check?" Danielle hated dimming her

her husband’s arm while he pretended to pout, jealousy written all over his

added smoothly, ever

Yesterday, Danielle had only acknowledged her brother, Joseph, leaving them afraid she blamed them for failing to protect her as a

melted away the moment their daughter called them "Mom" and "Dad," replaced now by beaming

you there," Vivian insisted as Danielle prepared

"Okay," Danielle replied.

Hospital buzzed with barely contained panic as doctors rushed through sterile

Logan Charrington-how did he crash so suddenly?"

the elderly patient more dead

a doctor