Chapter 2

The moment the call connected, an angry male voice came blasting through the speaker.

"Joan Thorne, what more do you want? Kayla knelt there until her knees were swollen, and those thorny branches left puncture wounds all over her back. She's about to make her debut, but you don't seem to care at all. Are you even a Thorne?"

Mom shot me a look for answering the call, then took a deep breath. "My name is Joan Newell. I'm not a Thorne."

That only made Gordon angrier.

"The DNA test already proved everything. Why are you still refusing to accept it? Mom and Dad are getting older. They just want you to come home so they can enjoy their later years in peace. Do you really have to go against them on everything?"

Mom set the phone on the table and sighed. "Mr. Thorne, I don't want to have to say this a third time. I have parents of my own. They're gone now, but they're the ones who raised me and gave me all the love I could ever ask for.

"We may be related by blood, but beyond that, we're strangers. So stop telling me what to do. You don't have that right."

After switching Mom at birth, the nanny had someone take her to a remote mountain village. Mom was later adopted by a couple with no children of their own, and they raised her with love and care.

She never went without food or clothes, and she never lacked love. She grew up healthy, both physically and emotionally.

After college, she married Dad, a police officer, and later had me. We lived a peaceful, happy life.

Aside from losing Dad in the line of duty a year ago, Mom had never had much to worry about.

Gordon still insisted on calling Mom Joan Thorne.

"Mom and Dad are your biological parents. That makes you a Thorne, and that's the name you should be using. I don't understand why you're so determined to hang on to that little diner.

"Wouldn't you rather come home and live like an heiress? And even if you don't care about any of that for yourself, think about your daughter. She's starting elementary school soon, isn't she? Don't you want her to have access to better schools?"

Mom turned to look at me.

I planted my hands on my hips. "You're exactly the kind of preachy middle-aged guy Dad used to complain about. No wonder Mommy doesn't like you. I don't like you either."

Gordon was speechless for a moment.

"And I don't want to go to some school your family sends me to. Your whole family's just putting on a show."

I'd gotten that from Ms. Warner next door. She'd said there was quite a show going on outside our diner today.

"You're just a kid, and you think you can talk about your elders like that? Kayla is your aunt. Apologize to her right now!" Gordon roared.

His shout startled me so badly that I jumped in my chair. Mom quickly pulled me into her arms.

The second Gordon turned his anger on me, Mom's voice went cold. "You have no authority over Eliza, and you have no right to tell her how to behave. Don't bother us again."

Before Gordon could say another word, Mom hung up and blocked his number.

Then she turned and gave me a long look. "Hold out your hand. Which hand did you use to answer the phone?"

I squeezed my eyes shut and held out my right hand. Mom gave my palm three quick swats without holding back.

I had to fight back a grin. They barely hurt.

After running around all day, Mom was too tired to scold me anymore. She took me home, gave me a bath, and put me to bed.

Before I fell asleep, I did what I always did. I held Dad's photo and told him everything that had happened that day.

"Daddy, someone was mean to Mommy today. But don't worry. I'm really strong, and I'll protect her."

I waved my little fist in the air. If they dared come back, I'd make them sorry.

A second later, I was fast asleep.

Mom gently took the photo from my arms and wiped the glass even though there wasn't a speck of dust on it.

Then she murmured, "Honey, do you think I'm doing the right thing?"

Dad smiled back at her from the photo, as if he would support whatever she decided.