Bianca shook her head. "No. Since you suspect your mother, why don’t you call her directly? If you really care about Sophia, you need to face this alone."

Michael’s face turned pale. He hesitated, staring down at the phone in his hand.

His mother had always held a firm grip on his life. After his father’s death, she seized full control of the Hayes family, demanding that everything follow her will.

The family hadn’t crumbled under the loss. Instead, it thrived because of her.

Her ...