Chapter 2

Lillian went quiet.

Kyle's expression darkened.“Erin,just because you’re the Walkers’biological daughter doesn’t mean you get to bully Lillian.Those shares belong to her.”

I ignored him and kept my eyes on Lillian."You weren't just saying that,were you,Lillian?"

Her face went pale for a few seconds,but she quickly recovered her usual gentle expression.

"Of course not.I'd be more than happy to give them back to you."

"But the company isn't a private shop.Any share transfer has to go through the board,and shareholders take on legal and financial liability.You don't have any experience.I'm afraid the directors might make things difficult for you."

Mr.and Mrs.Walker joined in,explaining that the company was controlled by a family trust and any transfer required approval from a majority of the board.

I might be their biological daughter,but I had lived away from the family for years and had never been trained as an heir.The board might not accept me.

They were all excuses.

The board was made up of relatives and Mr.Walker's oldest friends.If he wanted the transfer approved,no one would oppose him.

The four of them talked over one another,acting as if withholding money from me was some noble attempt to protect me.It made me sick.

My phone buzzed again.

My creative director informed me that even though tomorrow was Saturday,I still had to submit a revised proposal.

My nose stung.Every argument I had wanted to make died in my throat.

Forget it.

Let the whole world burn.

I went upstairs,took a shower,and crawled into bed.The moment my head touched the pillow,I finally felt human again.

I was about to scroll through my phone when someone knocked on my door.

"Erin,are you asleep?"Mrs.Walker called from the hallway."I warmed up some milk for you."

"No,thanks,"I said automatically.

After several seconds of silence,she spoke again."I'm sorry.I didn't know you were allergic to mushrooms.You loved them when you were little.When did you develop an allergy?"

She sounded almost hurt.

The truth was,I did remember a few things about this family.

I remembered sitting with her beside the fireplace while she held me,patted my back,and sang me lullabies.

At first,I really had hoped they would love me.

But then I realized they had already given Lillian all the affection that might once have been meant for me.That was when I stopped wanting it.

I still gave in.I opened the door,took the glass,and drank all the milk.

I was about to say good night when Mrs.Walker produced another glass from behind her back.

"I can't drink another one."

"This isn't for you."She pressed the glass into my hands."Would you take it to Lillian?What you said earlier hurt her,and she ran back to her room crying.Could you make the first move and give her a way to put this behind her?You are family,after all."

My hands stiffened.With every word she spoke,my heart sank a little further.

Finally,I asked,"If I take this to her,will you leave me alone tonight?"

She froze,then nodded anyway.

I carried the milk to Lillian's room.

When she opened the door,I held out the glass."Mom asked me to bring you this.She wants you to stop crying."

I clearly remembered waiting until her fingers had closed around the glass before I let go.

But the next second,the glass crashed to the floor.

Lillian screamed.

The broken glass cut the top of her foot.