"Luther," Valerie purred, her voice dripping with a faux-sweetness that made my skin crawl. Her eyes, stunningly green, lit up like a child who'd just walked into Disneyland, completely ignoring the stunned silence she'd caused. She beamed happily, completely unfazed by the fact that she had just interrupted a peaceful dinner and brought an absolute avalanche of chaos with her uninvited self.
She carried herself with the air of someone who knew exactly how much damage she was causing and was thoroughly enjoying the spectacle. The little girl, holding tightly to Valerie's hand, simply stared wide-eyed at the sudden gathering of silent strangers.
The moment Valerie's eyes landed on me, sitting so comfortably on the seat she once occupied—the seat next to Luther—her face soured. That brigh
