"Dad, Mom, I'm going to go wash up."
Darren stared at me, something unreadable shifting behind his expression.
When I first came to live with the Farleys, I'd accidentally knocked over an antique vase. Darren had taken the blame for me.
Consider us even.
It took nearly an hour of scrubbing before every last trace of paint finally washed away.
When I came out, Darren was still awake, as if he'd been waiting for me on purpose.
He saw the raw, broken skin on my arms and something like guilt flickered in his eyes.
"Jules, thank you."
Although it was a business marriage, his parents had never really warmed to Kitty's personality. From the very beginning, the daughter-in-law they wanted was me.
But Darren had insisted on marrying her, even defying his parents to do it.
Back then, I thought I'd never have a chance.
So when he proposed to me later, I felt like the luckiest woman alive, like I'd won the lottery.
Now I knew how stupid I'd been.
Darren gently took my hand.
"Tomorrow's the anniversary of your parents' passing. Let me go with you to visit them."
I didn't say anything. Just nodded. I had to see them before I left.