Chapter 10

So my mother came for Emma after all. To her, I'd always been expendable; even my death couldn't bring her a flicker of grief. I'd spent years wondering why she never loved me, and even longer accepting I didn't need her love.

Every ounce of her concern had always been for Emma. Even now, her only worry was how Emma might suffer from my death.

Hector's eyes darkened as he looked at her. "Get out. Sienna is dead, and you don't feel a damn thing, do you?"

Her face froze; she was shocked into silence.

I wanted to say to Hector, 'Hector, you're only now realizing I had no family to turn to? That I never truly had a home? I once thought you'd be my shelter, but in the end, you were the one who left me exposed. Now, any remorse you feel is just a hollow gesture.'

My mother tried to plead with him again, but he shoved her aside and walked out, regaining a strange, fleeting calm.

When Emma saw him, she thought her salvation had arrived. "Hector! You came to see me. I'm so scared—get me o