After Anabelle left for university in the States, my parents used retirement as an excuse to follow her. It wasr : long before Damian, completely smitten with his daughter, decided to move there as well, insisting I come
vith him.
Our daughter mentioned this on the phone, I have to bring it to her,” he’d say, packing a suitcase. “And this oney, what do you think? Pink or blue?” he asked, holding up a necklace.
pointed vaguely at one and went back to my phone.
Charity had somehow gotten my number and sent me a text. For years, I had been secretly funding her edu ation. She had not disappointed me. She had scored well enough on her college entrance exams to get intc
top–tier university.
Charity: [Mrs. Sterling, thank you for all your help over the years.]
My heart was a mix of emotions. I finally replied: [May you have a bright future.]
Jamian and I were leaving that day. On the way to the airport, a news report came on the radio.
A top student with a score of 605 has poisoned her family’s dinner, leaving no survivors. The perpetrator, confirmed deceased at the scene, has been identified as Charity Carter.”
A jolt went through me. Damian took my hand. “That poor child,” he murmured. “She was suppressed for too
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Chapter 2
long. This is the sin of the parents.”
02.46
“Darling,” I said, my voice thick. “Let’s not tell Anabelle about this for a while. Let’s just stay with her.”
A news alert popped up on my phone with the same story. A picture showed Isabelle’s body. Her eyes were
wide open, even in death.
She once had all the love and money in the world, and she threw it all away.
And so, it was left to someone else–someone who would cherish it–to take her place.
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