Page 27 of Forbidden Deception

They are both sitting in the front seat, not even talking to each other.

I wish I had a sibling. Maybe a sister, then we could play and go to school together.

I suck in a sharp breath at the building we pull up to. It has a car park to the left and an open ground in front of it where kids are playing. A woman with white hair tied into a bun is waiting for us.

“Come on, Venezia. Let’s go,” Mum calls, and I hurriedly get out.

Grandpa told me Mum and Dad were nice parents. Nice people. Nice.

Grandma complimented them both in my presence. But if they are so nice, then why didn’t they come before?

Where were they?

“Mum?” I hesitantly look up at her.

Tight lines around the face, piercing empty cold eyes and a small twist to her mouth are all I see and it brings me no comfort. There is a small frown on her face, and her brows are pinched. A clean look. Her outfit is one of the dresses that I often see rich people wear.

“Are you going to leave me here, too?” I ask in a quiet voice.

Her eyes instantly sharpen.

“Keep up.” She starts walking with dad.

My throat closes.

I can’t even open my mouth to ask anything else.

“Welcome, Mr and Mrs Cainn. Thank you for choosing Evergreen Foster Home. Your generous donation is certainly going towards a good cause,” the white-haired woman says, pushing her red glasses up her nose.

“Thank you, Mrs Riley. We take it that you will take great care of our Venezia.”

I look up at Dad to find him wearing the same bored expression he had on when he came to collect me. He keeps looking at his watch.

The few days I spent in their home, it was empty. No one came to visit. There was no one except one maid who helped me with my meals. The silence was deafening. I couldn’t breathe at times due to how lonely and echoey it was.

Mrs Riley’s eyes sweep over to me by Mum’s side, my small backpack in hand.

“You are Venezia. Am I right?” She grins at me, and it feels odd.

I wish Grandma and Grandpa were still alive. I don’t want to live with this lady.

“I will be helping you throughout your journey with us. You’re going to live here and make lots of friends.” She stretches out her hand, but I fall back a step.

She lifts a brow as if daring me to move a single wrong muscle.

I look up at Mum and Dad. They look like me. If they leave me again, I won’t look at myself in the mirror again. I don’t want to see the parents who left me. Again.

“Come on. I’ll show you to your room,” she grits out through her stiff smile.

My throat tightens, and my feet are frozen.

Is this it?

I’m too scared to live alone.

One new place after another because Mum and Dad don’t want me?

Tears blur my vision, and I gasp when Mum’s hands land on my back and push me forward. I almost fall into Mrs Riley’s arms.

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