Part 2The Unwanted Heiress: Dancing on Their Graves

"Maya, Martha is Martha. What she did has nothing to do with Serena."

My "big brother," Marcus Sterling, spoke up.

The rest of the family nodded in agreement.

But these were the South Side Line-Dancing Aunties. They had seen every trick in the book. A few looks exchanged between them, and they had the whole situation pegged.

Before the Sterlings could say another word, Auntie Bev—who hadn't even pampered her own son this much—cut them off.

"Oh, please. Give me a break."

"Whether she’s 'innocent' is one thing, but her crying like this? What is Maya supposed to do? Comfort the girl who’s been living her life?"

Bev reached out and yanked up my sleeve, exposing the jagged scars on the back of my hand.

"Look at this. Her 'mother' did this with a red-hot set of fireplace tongs."

"Then look at this girl. Dressed in designer labels, skin as soft as silk."

"And you want Maya to apologize to her? To comfort her? Does that sound right to you?"

Bev turned her glare toward Serena.

"Listen, kid. Maybe you can't be blamed for what your mother did, but Maya lived through hell for eighteen years because of it! Have some decency. Stop the crocodile tears. You’re just stabbing Maya in the heart."

With that, Bev wiped a stray tear with her sleeve and pulled me into a hug.

"My poor, silly girl. You always keep everything inside. No one loved you before, but now that your real parents are here, surely they won't be biased against you, right? These are your parents. If you’ve been wronged, you speak up!"

"Mr. and Mrs. Sterling, am I right?"

The squad’s eyes were all locked on the Sterling parents.

They smiled awkwardly. "Yes. Of course. Maya, tell us if anything is bothering you."

Serena, choked into silence by Bev’s bluntness, could only stare at the family with wide, red eyes, biting her lip.