Their words resonated within her, preventing Rhea from drifting off into sleep. And when she awoke, her memories slipped away like shadows at dawn.
Rhea had been in this position for most of her life. She grew up with the foster family, whom she referred to as mom, dad, and brother. That was all she knew, and despite their treatment of her as if she were an animal and not their daughter, she loved them so much.
They assigned her a room near the kitchen fireplace, consistently excluding her from their meals while catering to all of her brother's desires. They didn't know when her birthday was. It was at the age of ten that her father revealed they were not her biological parents.
Rhea slipped out of her room with no difficulty as everyone was already asleep. She relished the cool night b
