Page 128 of Sinful Blaze

“I don’t know, and I really don’t care. I’m just glad I don’t have to do that godawful showcase anymore.”

True to my word, I grab my phone to send Pasha a text to update him.

Brittany just stopped by. Legit psycho. Unhinged.

Dom and Lev took care of it

Btw, what did she mean by Conrad no longer having a career?

There’s no immediate response, so I tuck my phone away and give a little wave to Hazel as I walk back toward my office. With everything said and done, I might as well get back to some real work.

Before I reach the door, though, my phone buzzes.

PASHA: Unless he can paint with his left hand, he needs to find a new hobby

DAPHNE: What happened?

PASHA: He stuck his hand somewhere it doesn’t belong. Accidents happen when people ignore all the warnings

PASHA: Which one is Brittany?

DAPHNE: Conrad’s fiancee. You were there when he proposed to her, remember?. You burned her painting.

PASHA: Ah. Right. Still the best $5 million I’ve ever invested

DAPHNE: Invested? Hardly. Literally burned through your money

PASHA: I got you, didn’t I?

Now, I’m blushing. There’s no one around to see it, but I don’t care.

49

DAPHNE

All in all, it’s a pretty wonderful day.

Until I start sorting through the mail that arrived at my office late in the afternoon and see a letter addressed to “Daphne Hamish.”

My stomach drops.

I recognize that handwriting.

Mom even wrote my name large enough that it takes up half the envelope. As if I need a giant sign to remind me of my birth name.

As if I could ever forget.

Can’t they just let this go? What is so hard about cutting their losses? I don’t realize I’m this close to bursting into tears until Melanie answers her phone.

“Hey, Daph! What’s up?”

Shit. I’m crying. There’s no “close to”; I’m legit sobbing.

“Daph…? You okay?”

“Why won’t they leave me alone?” I slap the table with the unopened letter. “Why is this so… so… so fucking hard for them to just leave me the hell alone?”

Honestly, that question applies to so many more people than just my parents. Conrad, Brittany, The Tweedles… why can’t they just take the very obvious hint and leave me alone?

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