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After all, why would someone likehimwant someone likeme?

“Sloane,” he repeated, rising from the couch, his light brown eyes studying me. “I’m so sorry I didn’t come sooner. I’ve been out of the country for the past year, and I didn’t hear of your mother’s passing until I returned.”

I remained silent as I took him in, my hands trembling at my sides. Everett walked toward me, slowly, like he thought I was a flight risk that would bolt for the hills with any sudden movement.

“I’m so sorry about your mother, Sloane. I can’t even imagine what that was like, caring for her while she had cancer. And with you being all alone. If I’d known…”

“What are you doing here?” I finally asked, cutting his excuses off. The words came out hoarse, like I’d been silent for years and was just now speaking for the first time.

“Sloane,” Katherine chided, sounding shocked for whatever reason.

Everett held up a hand, shaking his head. “I deserve whatever she wants to give me. I left her there, knowing her mother was…wasn’t all right.”

“It was the pills that actually killed her. Not the cancer. Did they tell you that?” I murmured.

He stared at me with pity, and I hated that. I didn’t want pity. I wanted…I didn’t know what I wanted, actually.

But I didn't want that.

“Your uncle’s come to get you, Sloane,” Katherine said, still sounding miffed. “He’s agreed to become your guardian. All the paperwork has been done.”

I blinked at the news, the spark in my chest growing. Even confused that he’d been nowhere to be found these past years, I had good memories with him, little glimmers of happiness in the murky gray of my childhood.

Honestly, though, even if he’d been a grumpy man who’d yelled at me for laughing too loudly or running down the halls…he’d be better than what I’d experienced this past year.

And then there was the fact that his eyes were the same as my mom’s. Staring into them felt a little like…staring into hers.

“You are?” I whispered after a moment, afraid that any second now I was going to wake up under my threadbare sheet, and this was all going to be a dream. I studied him closer, willing this to be happening, noticing how truly nice his suit was and the fact that the gold watch on his wrist had diamonds all around its face. Everett had always had money, but it seemed like he might have gotten even richer since the last time I’d seen him.

“Would that be okay?” he asked, glancing around. His mouth pursed in displeasure as he glared at the water marks on the walls that were probably hiding layers of mold, and the stains on the carpet from the Beckers’ dog that they never cleaned up after.

“Yes,” I said immediately. “I mean—I mean if you’re sure,” I added, trying to tamp down the hope building in my chest.

His face gentled, and a small smile peeked on his handsome face. “Of course, I’m sure. As soon as I heard what had happened, I came straight to get you. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

The grin that appeared on my face was the first one I’d had in well…years. It felt strange, as if it was a stretch for my features to make that movement anymore.

Everett’s smile grew, and he nodded, like he was pleased with the turn of events. “Why don’t you go get your stuff, and we’ll get out of here.”

I bit down on my lip, staring at my bag as embarrassment flushed through me. “This is all I have,” I said softly, holding up the sack as I tried not to allow my shame to leak out all over my face.

His smile died, and a low growl came from his chest as he turned on Katherine. “Is this how the state treats its wards?” he snapped. “Where’s all the money that’s supposed to be going to them?”

Katherine straightened, pulling on her ill-fitting suit. “Our families are heavily vetted. We leave it to their discretion to buy what the children in their care need?—”

“Does that bag seem like all sheneeds? And look at her shoes. Is that—” He glared aghast at my shoe like it had personally offended him. “Is thatduct tapeholding your shoe together, Sloane?”

I crossed my foot behind my other leg like I could hide it, a blush creeping across my cheeks even though it wasn’t my fault.

“The court’s order has gone through?” Everett snapped, his eyes heavy with disdain as he looked at Katherine.

She seemed alarmed by how the visit was suddenly going, a tic in her cheek and her eyes wide as she anxiously pulled on her suit coat again. Katherine slowly nodded.

“Sloane, go wait by the door,” Everett ordered through gritted teeth, and I hustled down the hall and around the corner to the front door as he began to tear Katherine a new one.

The spark in my chest had grown into a forest fire, spreading across my veins and leaving me tingling.

I had to get out the door first, and even then, I didn’t know how long it would take for me to believe that I was getting out of this hellhole.