The elevator doors opened, and Alexis stepped into the luxurious penthouse that had somehow become her family’s haven. The polished marble floors gleamed under the lights, and the high ceilings only added to the grandnes, a constant reminder that the Carringtons were the reason her family was living in such a place. Still, Alexis couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief and familiarity.
As she walked through the entryway, her mother appeared from the living room, her face sharp, her expression bright in a way Alexis hadn’t seen in years. She held herself with a clarity that Alexis wasn’t used to, and the typical haze of beer that used to follow her was absent.
“Mom, you’re sober,” Alexis breathed, a mix of surprise and happiness flooding her.
Her mother gave a smirk, crossing her arms
