Chapter 1

The day the court summons arrived, I'd just gotten home from working late.

I pulled it up on my computer, expressionless, and scanned the details. The plaintiff was my mother, Sandra Lennox. She was demanding 6,000 dollars a month in support, back pay for the months she claimed I owed, and a public apology.

My fingers paused on the mouse. I closed the page.

Then, my phone rang, the screen flashing "Mom".

I let it ring for a second before answering.

She skipped the pleasantries entirely. "Keira, you got the court summons, didn't you? Send me 10,000 dollars a month, and I'll drop the whole thing right now."

I leaned against the cold wall, my voice flat. "Not a chance. You'll get 60 dollars a month—take it or leave it. If you want to go through with this, I'll be in court."

Mom's voice shot up, sharp with fury. "Keira, you really think you've outgrown me, don't you? I worked myself to the bone raising you, kept food on the table and a roof over your head so you could get through school, and this is how you repay me?"

Years of buried resentment churned inside me, and I fired back, "Why don't you ask yourself who all that food and comfort actually went to?"

The other end went silent. Then came an eruption even louder than before. "You ungrateful wretch! I raised both of you on my own! You think that was easy? And now you have the nerve to talk back to me?"

"Save it," I cut her off, my voice still steady. "You want to take me to court? Go ahead. I'll be right there."

"Fine. Alright!" Mom let out a cold laugh, her tone turning venomous.

"Keira, let me tell you something. This lawsuit is going to humiliate you, not me. You work in the city now. Imagine all your coworkers and friends finding out you're the kind of daughter who mistreats her own mother. Let's see how you show your face after that."

I almost smiled. "I don't care."

I hung up before she could get another word in.

The quiet didn't last. My phone started buzzing with a stream of texts from my brother, Troy Hadley.

"Hey, Keira, I saw these new sneakers I want. They're 2,000 dollars. Mom said you've got money now that you're working and told me to ask you. Send it over."

I stared at the screen and almost laughed at the sheer nerve. I typed back, "I'm not your ATM. If you want shoes, earn the money yourself. You graduated from trade school years ago, and you're still lounging around the house mooching off everyone else. Have you got no shame?"

A few seconds later, Troy fired back.

"Fine, don't then. You think you're hot shit because you went to college? Don't you dare lecture me. No wonder Mom's suing you. You're nothing but a selfish brat who doesn't give a damn about her own family."

I let out a bitter laugh, my finger hovering over the screen as fragments of the past flickered through my mind.

When I was little, Mom always saved the best food for Troy. I'd scrape together two weeks' worth of pocket money, and she'd force me to hand it all over so she could buy him snacks and toys.