Chapter 3

Bridges' gaze was sweeping in this direction.

Ms. Anderson walked up to me, holding Isaac's hand. "Isaac and that gentleman just had a little misunderstanding. I wanted to explain the situation to you..."

I turned my back to Bridges, keeping my voice very low.

"I have an emergency right now, a really urgent one. Can I contact you later?"

Ms. Anderson paused, looking at my expression, then glancing behind me.

"But..."

I made up an excuse on the spot, bent down and scooped up Isaac.

Isaac obediently put his arms around my neck, looking confused.

I turned and darted into a nearby alley, quickly taking him home.

Isaac slid down from my arms and looked up at me.

"That uncle kept staring at you just now. When you left, he watched your back for a long time."

I didn't say anything. Just as I was about to close the door, a hand pressed against it from outside.

Gina stood in the doorway, smiling triumphantly and falsely.

"Lewis, it really is you. It's been so long."

"No wonder Bridges didn't recognize you. You don't look anything like that arrogant person you used to be."

Isaac poked half his face out from behind my legs, his little face tense, glaring at her.

Gina noticed his gaze, looked down, and smiled.

"Which man did you have this one with?"

I rolled my eyes dramatically and cut her off. "Are you done?"

The smile on her face froze for a moment. She pulled a gold-embossed invitation from her bag and held it out.

"Lewis, tomorrow is my and Bridges' wedding. Mom and Dad said that even though you're not their biological daughter, they raised you for twenty years and still hope you can come."

Gina shoved the invitation into my hand and leaned close to my ear.

"Oh, and I still have those paintings of yours."

I raised an eyebrow.

Gina stepped back half a step, a dignified and proper smile on her face, but her eyes were vicious.

"You left in such a hurry back then. That kraft paper bag had about twenty-something paintings in it, all from when you were in high school."

Gina tilted her head, smiling sweetly.

"I heard you were originally going to apply to art school? What a shame. I was the one who had Mom and Dad cut off all your financial support, which kept you from going to college."

"I've looked through those paintings a few times. They're all large-scale photos of Bridges, aren't they?"

I narrowed my eyes at her. "What do you want? I've already left the Gibbs family. After all these years, you still won't let me go?"

She let out a triumphant laugh.

"Lewis, you stole so many years of my life. This is nothing."

"The wedding is next Saturday. If you come, I'll return those paintings to you in front of everyone. If you don't come, I'll make them public at the wedding and let everyone see how disgusting you are."

I snorted with laughter.

"Fine, then make them public. Let everyone see his nude photos."

Gina froze for a moment, then her face turned bright red.

"You're shameless!"

I smiled and pulled out my phone, waving it. "Oh, and if you don't think that's sensational enough, I have more here. From when he and I... you know. Want to see those too?"

I didn't actually have anything, but I was used to playing dirty.

Gina's face turned ashen.

"Lewis, you're despicable!"

I tilted my head, smiling brightly. "If you don't show everyone my paintings, you're a dog."

She was shaking with rage, pointing her finger at me, unable to get a word out for a long time.

"You were spoiled rotten by the Gibbs family. You've been kicked out for so many years and you still haven't learned to control your temper. Just you wait."

She glared at me furiously through gritted teeth, then turned and left.

I called after her, "I'll definitely be there tomorrow. If you don't release them, you're not human!"

Isaac poked his head out from behind the door.

"Mom, what did you paint?"

I pinched his little face. "Tomorrow Mom's taking you to a party."