Sienna’s POV
Ruth held my gaze for a long moment before she spoke. “I’m sorry, Sienna,” she said, her voice carefully level. “I would love to tell you the truth, but in this case, it’s just not possible. I’m protecting you both when I say this. This secret, I will take to the grave with me.”
“Don’t I deserve to know?” I asked, my hurt clear in my voice and on my face. I made no move to try to hide it. I was far too exhausted to even think of attempting to pull on a mask.
Ruth’s face crumpled, seeing my pain. “You do, Sienna, but I made promises to myself. I cannot risk either of you. The secret has to stay just that.”
So much for a mother’s love. Whatever hope I had that she had been genuine before vanished in an instant. In the empty hole it left, I felt that same rejection, that same
