Chapter 228: Surprise, Surprise, Sister

Savannah “Chloe!” The word tore out of my mother’s mouth like a prayer ripped straight from her chest. For a second, no one moved. Then Mom surged forward as if something inside her had finally snapped into place, as if the ghost she’d been mourning for months had suddenly grown flesh and bone right in front of her. Her hands were everywhere—grabbing Chloe’s shoulders, her arms, turning her this way and that, fingers threading through her hair, skimming down her sides like she was afraid Chloe might vanish if she didn’t keep touching her. “Is this really you?” Mom whispered, voice breaking. “Oh my God… is this really you?” I looked away briefly. Yes, Mom. That's your daughter right there. The precious daughter who ruined us all. I stayed where I was, rooted beside Roman, watching the scene with a hollow ache blooming behind my ribs. Chloe stood there stiffly, allowing herself to be inspected like a fragile artifact returned from the dead. She didn’t hug Mom back. Didn’t melt. Didn’t cr