Rose’s entire body froze.
Her fingers twitched, her breath caught in her throat.
Here he was.
Her father.
Her betrayer.
She slowly turned around, pulse pounding so loud in her ears it was all she could hear. The late afternoon sun glinted off the polished hood of a sleek black car. And there, leaning casually against it like he owned the world, was the man who had torn hers apart.
A mocking smirk twisted his lips.
He looked exactly the same same slicked-back hair, same cheap cologne that she could smell from where she stood. But his eyes… they held something new. Something darker. Meaner. Like life had kicked him around, and he’d decided to kick back.
“Rosie,” he drawled. “Look at you".
Her breath hitched. That nickname. It used to sound sweet. Now it felt like poison.
Her finger
