A Missing Key 218 Missed Calls One Family Secret novel Chapter 2

Chapter 2

I kept waiting for Dad to turn to me. To call my name.

He was less than ten feet away, but it felt like there was an invisible wall between us.

No one noticed my empty hands. No one asked why I didn’t get one.

“Well, well, well-Manhattan’s finest decided to slum it with us today.”

Vanessa’s voice sliced through the air, sharp and sweet like poisoned honey.

“Love the power suit, babe. Very Wolf of Wall Street. Must be exhausting, playing CEO all day.”

She sauntered over, and looked me up and down.

“Oh wait-you’re not even a CEO, are you? Just middle management with a fancy title?”

“I mean, it’s cute that you still show up to these things. Most people would’ve gotten the hint by now.”

Her eyes flicked to my empty hands, then back to my face. “But I guess some people just… don’t know when they’re not wanted.”

The room tilted.

My lungs forgot how to work.

I wanted to scream, to shove her perfectly smug face, to demand why no one was defending me. But my voice was trapped somewhere deep in my throat, drowning in shame.

I turned away, grabbing the heaviest box I could find. The corners dug into my forearms, bruising, but I welcomed the pain. At least it was something I could control.

Mom walked past me, barely glancing over. “Be careful, Evie. Don’t hurt yourself. You’ve got work tomorrow.”

It sounded like concern. But her eyes never actually landed on me.

I bit down on the inside of my cheek until I tasted copper.

Dinner was set up in the new dining room. The long table was loaded with food, and everyone gathered around, raising glasses.

Dad stood up, grinning ear to ear.

“Alright, everyone-tonight we celebrate. And I figured I’d go ahead and assign the rooms while we’re all here.”

My heart stopped.

“Master bedroom-me and Diane, obviously.”

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A Missing Key, 218 Missed Calls, One Family Secret

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No one tried to stop me.

Dad just frowned a little. “Don’t work yourself to death, kiddo.”

Mom said, “Drive safe.”

Garrett looked at me for a second, like he wanted to say something.

He didn’t.

I grabbed my suitcase-the one I’d brought thinking maybe, just maybe, I’d stay the night-and walked out of that glowing, perfect house.

I paused at the end of the driveway and looked back.

Through the big bay windows, I could see them-laughing, talking, toasting.

That was home.

And I wasn’t part of it.

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A Missing Kev. 218 Missed Calls. One Family Secret