CHAPTER 3: The Broken Legacy

Sawyer didn’t raise his voice, and he didn’t lash out, even though he felt as if his soul were being ripped in half by the weight of these revelations.

He stood by the railing of the hospital bed, his hand hovering near his daughter, looking at the woman he’d shared a life with for a decade as if she were a total stranger.

“What did she mean by that?” he asked, his voice deathly quiet.

Carolina crossed her arms, trying to regain some control. “She’s just a child. She repeats whatever pops into her head without any real understanding.”

Bridget, the social worker, stepped forward and held up a hand. “Mrs. Owens, I’m going to have to ask you to leave this room immediately.”

“You can’t kick me out—I’m her mother!” Carolina shouted.