Page 110 of Cold As Ice

“Yes, well.” She swallowed whatever bullshit she’d been about to spew and composed herself.

Even now, in the privacy of her own home with her children, Susannah Hart wouldn’t break. She wouldn’t show so much as a shred of human decency because appearances—her beauty—were always more important than anything.

“Garth has contacts in the industry. He thinks he can help me relaunch myself.”

And there it was.

Mom hadn’t turned over a new leaf. She hadn’t reconnected with an old flame and finally decided there was more to life than fame and fortune.

An opportunity had presented itself that was too good to resist.

“When do you leave?” I asked.

“The movers will be here next Wednesday. The realtor is going to handle everything else.”

“That’s… I don’t know what to say.” Rory glanced around the house, emotion rippling over her features, and I couldn’t help but wonder what she saw.

Did she hate this place as much as I did? Or did she still cling to the foolish notion that we could be a family again?

Like that would ever happen.

Mom hadn’t been my family in a long time. And although I loved my sister, she had Noah now. She didn’t need me.

“If you want some time to sort through your things. Whatever isn’t gone by the time the movers arrive Wednesday will be donated to Goodwill.”

A bitter laugh spilled out of me, and both of them looked over at me. “Surely, you can see the irony,” I said.

“I didn’t expect you to understand,” Mom said with the same disappointment and resentment she’d only ever leveled in my direction.

“So why did you want me here then? Why invite me at all?”

“Because I knew it was what Aurora would want.”

“Mom!” Rory gasped.

“And because I thought some closure would be good for all of us.”

“I took everything I wanted when I left. Take whatever time you need,” I said to my sister, “but I’m done here.”

“Austin—” she called after me, but I was already out of the door.

Unwilling to give even another second of my time to a woman who would never change her ways.

* * *

“I thought I might find you here.” Rory slid into the booth beside me. “What are you drinking?”

“Whisky.”

She lifted her hand and flagged down a server. “Can I get a whisky on the rocks, please? And another for my brother.”

“Coming right up.”

“You don’t drink whisky.” I narrowed my eyes.

“No, but that was… a lot. I could do with a drink.”

“You could have ordered one of those sugary cocktails you and the girls like so much.”

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