Serena slid behind the wheel of her car, the leather still warm from the afternoon sun. A wave of melancholy settled over her like an unwelcome guest, heavy and suffocating.When Araminta had moved in with Valentina and Josh, Serena had gently suggested that perhaps it wasn’t appropriate for her to share a home with Josh, who, after all, was not related to her by blood. A polite, reasonable request — that Josh find his own place.But Alfonso, eager to please Valentina and to keep Araminta comfortable, had hesitated. And rather than stir up conflict, Serena had quietly made the decision to move out herself.Now I’m just an outsider in my own family, she thought bitterly, pressing the ignition button as the car’s engine hummed to life.With no urgent work at the studio, she decided to go straight home. The city outside blurred past her windows, neon signs beginning to flicker against the deepening dusk. Before she could fully slip into the solitude of the drive, her phone buzzed against
Last Updated : 2024-12-02 Read more