He'd cheated on her from the start. Before the vows. Before the wedding photos. My father had stood beside my mother and promised her forever while another woman carried his children.

My fists clenched at my sides, nails digging into my palms until I felt the sharp bite of pain. Unclenched. Clenched again.

Arms wrapped around me then. Warm, solid, smelling faintly of lavender. The silver-haired woman held me against her chest, one hand settling at the back of my head. My breath slipped out in ...