I opened my eyes, blinking away the sting of memories. They hadn’t even come to bring me home when the news of my release broke.
The case had been reopened. New evidence had surfaced, proving I wasn’t the one who had abducted and killed Lily. Someone had bailed me out, though I didn’t know who. A part of me hoped it was Marcus. I missed him. In prison, he had been my lifeline, the only thing keeping me from giving up entirely.
We had made a promise—no matter what happened, we would always be together. That he would always be by my side.
The sound of a car engine made my chest tighten. It was the family car. It pulled up, and for a split second, I let myself believe they had come for me.
The door opened, and my father stepped out. His face was cold, unreadable. No warmth, no relief, not even anger—just indifference.
“Why are you here? I don’t have a daughter like you. Leave.”
His words sliced through me like a dagger.
My father still hated me.
Then my mother stepped out. Her eyes softened when they landed on me, a flicker of longing in them. I wanted to run to her, to throw myself into her arms and sob like a child.