Chapter 3

Nora shoots up and pulls Tessa to her feet. "Tessa, don't cry. You stay here with me. If they won't let you, I'll leave with you. Simple."

*【The Heroine is a MASTER manipulator. Whatever she wants, she gets—no matter the cost.】*

*【Honestly the throwaway seems like a decent person? Shame she's just a stepping stone.】*

I keep my voice soft. "Nora, calm down. I never said I wouldn't help her. She has parents, so legally we can't adopt her. But I can be her sponsor. And she can stay here with you."

Nora nods slowly. "I don't know what 'sponsor' means. I just know I've had Tessa's back since we were kids. As long as we're not split up, we're good."

Tessa bites her lip. Obviously my answer is not the answer she wanted. But she nods.

I take Nora upstairs. "This is your brother's room. This is mine. Yours is right in between us."

Nora stops in the doorway of the pink bedroom. In her black leather and combat boots, she looks like a smudge in a Barbie catalog.

She scoffs. "Pink? Kinda basic."

But her eyes are darting everywhere—the canopy bed, the vanity, the bay window seat. The corner of her mouth twitches up.

Tessa sighs behind her. "Wow, Nora. So lucky. Pink is my favorite color."

Nora slaps her own thigh. "Oh! Right. Tess, you love pink. You take this room."

Tessa blinks up at her. "Oh, I couldn't. Your mom made it up for you."

Nora slings an arm around her shoulders. "Nah, it's cool. I told you I've got you for life. I can crash anywhere."

Ethan smirks. "Finally, some self-awareness. Princess rooms are for princesses. Tessa fits way better."

I let my eyes rest on my son for exactly one second too long.

Something flickers in Tessa's eyes. Triumph, maybe. She's already stepping toward the door when I speak.

"Tessa. If pink is your favorite, I'll have a room redone for you. But this floor only has three bedrooms. It wouldn't be appropriate for you to be up here."

I turn to Nora. "Sweetheart. If you don't like the color, tell Mom. I'll have it redone in whatever you want."

I glance at the housekeeper. "Martha, take Tessa down to the second floor. Help her pick a guest room she likes."

Tessa's eyes shine with instant tears. "You—want me to sleep with the maids?"

"The maids?" My voice sharpens.

"This is the twenty-first century, sweetheart. Not Downton Abbey. They're employees. Not maids."

Tessa flinches. "I'm sorry. Wrong word."

Martha, bless her, gives Tessa a smile that isn't a smile. "Miss Harlow. Shall we?"

Tessa opens her mouth, closes it, and follows her down the stairs.

Nora watches her go, brow furrowed. "She's not gonna get, like, bullied down there, right?"

My heart melts. "Silly girl. Tessa is your guest. You're the daughter of this house. Nobody would dare."