Chapter 231

“This is just a, uh, home away from home,” I say, smiling as I hold out a hand to indicate the giant silver and black monstrosity overshadowing our neighborhood. “I hope you don't mind that my friends stopped by for a bit…”

Dad smiles and reaches out to ruffle up my hair.

“I don't mind at all,” he says as I take his hand and squeeze it in mine. “How was chemo today?” I ask casually, knowing that Charlie's resistant to telling me anything about his treatment. He doesn't want to scare me.

What he doesn't realize is that I'm scared enough as it is.

“Just fine,” he replies, his baseball cap covering up his balding head. I hate it. It's not fair. Why does someone like William Vanderbilt get to beat his son and squandor his family fortune, and have his fat pulled from the fire at the last second? And why does someone like Jennifer Carmichael get to cheat on her husband, abandon her child, and then live a life of luxury without any health problems?

The world c