Chapter 39

It was a sunny morning as I drove down one of the busiest of the Las Vegas streets. It was surprisingly crowded all the way through as 1 adjusted my sunglasses for the tenth time since I started driving.

The sun was bright and hot-a little too much of both as it beat down on me. The sudden heat waves were the things I hated the most about living in Las Vegas, but it beat a hurricane or blizzard any day.

I shifted lanes as I pulled off the highway and onto the familiar road before me. Kids were out playing in the nice community. It was a pricier neighborhood but worth it.

I smiled as I heard the familiar tune of the ice cream truck several blocks down, probably giving joy to the kids of Viewpoint Circle.

But ice cream and the heat wave were not what I was here for.

I pulled into the familiar driveway, shutting off my car as I stepped out, locking it with a click of the remote.

I glanced at the stones lining the pathway heading to the house, seeing four sets of handprints imprinted into the rocks.

My name was scribbled on one of them, hands far too tiny to be an adult.

It felt like I’d made those handprints in a different lifetime.

When I reached the door, I raised my hand to knock, but the door had already flung open.

Piers, my grandmother’s butler, stood there as stiff and unusual as ever.

“Good morning. Miss Adelaide,” Piers said in a monotone voice.

“Are you ever going to tell me how you do that, Piers?” I smiled, pulling off my sunglasses. “Cause I’d love to know that party

trick.”

“Practice, Miss Adelaide,” Piers said, his lips twitching at the corner in a way that I knew meant he was laughing inwardly. “Mrs. Hildebrand is waiting for you.”

He opened up the door, stepping aside as I entered. The place was spotless as ever, but the walls were quickly running out of

room

with a photo frame, old and new photos placed together. My grandparents’ walls were a shrine to every moment of our

full display in this house.

the backyard where I spotted my

to him as I grabbed the pair of gardening gloves he offered to me. I used the same pair

house. I pulled on my gloves, and my grandmother looked up with

lilies. Aren’t they beautiful?” she gushed, a beaming smile on her face as I dropped to my

beside her.

calla lilies were in full bloom. The flowers were so bright they almost put the sun to

I grinned. “Looks like your garden is doing well this year.”

you mean,” Grandma laughed. “You helped

to pull at the weeds

come here for? I doubt

a pop, the force knocking me onto my

I that obvious?” I smiled.

out a stubborn weed with one good, hard tug. I shook my head, grinning at the ease with which

pretended to grumble despite the smile on my lips. “You’re right, though.

about Corinna’s wedding?” Grandma eyed me, firmly. “Cause you know I can’t share any details on

I shook my head,

canceled entirely. Corinna and Ashton were against it from what I’d heard, but this went further

unacceptable. My grandfather was a mellow man, and so was Ferdinand, Danon’s grandfather, but both of them had a line everyone knew not to cross.

Corinna had played jump rope with

sighed, unable to believe what I was about to say, “if

you mean?” Grandma frowned.

a time limit on how long she can make money that way. Especially with how bad

she turned to me slowly with wide,

beg your pardon?”

I

my job, and I’ve been living on a low paying salary for years. Besides, I have Damon

at me, hard and serious, for a few moments. I could feel my heart racing in my chest. I

money.

Corinna, however….

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