(Grace’s POV)
"Grace, you need to smile more," Mother says at my first family dinner after coming home. "You look so sullen. No wonder people avoid you."
Across the table, Vivienne smiles sweetly. "I'm sure she's just adjusting, Mother. It must be hard going from... well, where she was... to here."
The unspoken words hang in the air: from poverty to wealth. From trash to treasure.
I force a smile. "I'm very grateful to be here."
"Grateful." Father sets down his wine glass. "You should be more than grateful. You should be honored. We've given you a second chance, Grace. Don't waste it."
I nod. Agree. Play the role of the thankful daughter.
Meanwhile, Vivienne watches me like a cat watching a mouse.
And I don't realize until much later that I've already lost.
"Alexander, this is Gra
