ardest. They don't tell you that the second

, and reality has a way of seeping through the cracks. The reality was that I was a ma

nd hours in our kitchen on Sundays, trying to learn the family's complicated, generational recipes. I b

ny table of the Estate,

he didn't look at me; she looked right through me. "A bit... rustic. But then again, I suppose we

nd squeezed my knee. His jaw was tight. "It's delicious, Milli

but she smiled. "Of course, dear. You alwa

ate, but in public, he was still a Brooks. He was terrified of his grandmother, still carrying the childhood trauma

ted me gone. And they brought in a v

and she possessed the kind of effortless elegance that came from being born with a silver spoon in her mouth.

e brought expensive wine, laughed at the grandmother's cruel jokes, and found every excuse to to

ed one Sunday, leaning into him. "Are y

in said, his tone p

uring for Ara to take the seat directly across from me. "You two hav

noring my existence. Whenever I tried to speak, she would smoothly talk over me. And Stellin... Stellin just sat there. H

, my voice colder than I intended when Ara s

ticed a piece of dirt on the floor. "Oh. I'm sur

. "Millie, it'

dinn

way home. "Why do you let her do that?" I deman

"Ara is just an old friend. My grandmother is difficult, bu

"They will never stop, Stellin. They want

fight my grandmother, she will make our lives

sting me my digni

aiming I had to work late. I threw myself into my business, taking on grueling hours to bu

d. She was a constant shadow in our lives, a reminder of the world Stellin belonged