The next day, William showed up with Henry.


    Henry ran straight to me and threw his arms around me.


    “Mom, we finally found you!”


    He’d only ever been this affectionate with Emma before.


    William’s expression stayed neutral, but he looked smug as hell. “One whole year.”


    ‘Lucy, I’ve been looking for you for a year.”


    Are you done being mad?”


    No wonder they had trouble finding me.


    ‘hey didn’t even have a single photo of me.


    ne time on my birthday, I wanted to go to town for a family portrait.


    lot one of them was willing.


    gently pushed Henry’s hands away. <fn5907> This text is hosted at find?novel</fn5907>


    You’ve got the wrong person.”


    enry’s eyes started welling up.


    Mom, don’t you want me anymore?”


    Villiam looked pissed.


    He thinks about you every single day.”


    Sometimes he dreams about you and wakes up crying.”


    Lucy, he’s your biological son. How can you be so heartless?”


    leartless?


    When it came to being heartless, how could Ipete with them?


    ast time around, the final time I saw them, they watched me run away humiliated.


    Didn’t say a word in my defense.


    got a second chance at life to live for myself.


    Chester suddenly butted in.


    ‘Wait, she’s Lucy?”


    ‘The Lucy you’ve been looking for all year?”


    He blurted out, “How’s that possible? She told me her husband and kid got cursed to death.”


    William’s face went dark.


    Once Chester figured out the whole story, he went into protective mode.


    “So basically, you two just weren’t meant to be?”


    He patted William’s shoulder.


    ‘Cuz, you can’t force what’s not in the cards.”


    William gave him an icy look.


    You don’t want that Porsche anymore?”


    hester looked torn, but gritted his teeth and said, “Cars can be reced anytime. Lose the woman and she’s gone for good!”


    Villiam froze that hit way too close to home.


    le lost his shit.


    she’s your cousin-inw!”


    hester stuck his chin out.


    Then why’s she here all alone?”


    Enough!”


    inally stepped in to end this circus.


    All of you need to get the hell out.”


    nester obviously wasn’t having it, but William dragged him away by force.


    xcept William left Henry behind.


    efore leaving, he said, “Wait for me. I’ming back.”


    fter he left, Henry and I just stared at each other.


    e seemed pretty happy though, chattering away about the past year.


    ow his sses were brutal-any little mistake meant getting his knuckles rapped.


    ow Emma ignored him, too busy sucking up to Old Mrs. Winchester.


    ow much, much he missed me.


    > he’d been miserable.


    eep down, he was just as selfish asst time,


    1 my past life, Henry was probably miserable too.


    ut William never thought to bring him along to find me.


    o he gradually adapted to Winchester family life.


    Actually, Emma made the smart choice.


    Old Mrs. Winchester held serious power.


    William felt endless guilt toward her, and his father absolutely adored his wife.


    That’s how Emma climbed thedderst time.


    ying Mrs. Winchester perfectly, slowly winning over the Winchester men.


    Too bad this time around, my leaving had really gotten under William’s skin, which changed everything.


    Henry was still my kid-I couldn’t just kick him out.


    He said excitedly. “I want Mom’s red bean soup!”


    But I just ordered him takeout instead.


    His disappointment was written all over his face.


    said tly. “Don’t eat if you don’t want to. Starve until your dades to get you.”


    le had no choice but to pick at his food sadly.


    wo dayster, William came back looking like he’d been through hell.


    le seemed exhausted but weirdly excited. “Lucy, I’m not leaving.”


    Our family’s gonna stay here for a while.”


    ust like old times.”