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Standing up back up straight and turning back to look at him earnestly, I told him the truth, “Wyatt, if I could do it, I would”

“Careful, Dona,” Wyatt said, the corner of his lip turned up “The longer you wear the es with your face”

He thought I was joking No He knew me better than that He just didn’t want to take me seriously He didn’t want to think there could ever be a time where I would betray the with e of the cliff

So I sed, hoping that would stop the ache in , and teased him instead “Careful little brother, the monster isn’t the mask; it’s just you”

“For the hundredth er than you, Dona” He grinned, trying to reach over and lock racefully ducked and walked forward, replying, “And for the hundredth er, Wyatt”

“Dona—”

I sighed loudly, whippingto make a dramatic exit here?”

“Then let me cue it up perfectly,” Wyatt said in a brief moment of seriousness “What happens now?”

“You say that as if I’ve done soue”

The door shut once I sat inside of the car And as Greyson, Ethan’s foruard and chauffeur, drove away fro to happen to that part of er in …

“You can’t be everything you want to be!” Toby’s voice came to mind once more

I drowned him out with the memory of my mother

“Have high expectations, do not doubt yourself and do not compromise,” she said…and I wouldn’t I wouldn’t compromise my family for power

“Greyson”

“Yes, ma’am?”