Skyler couldn''t find the words at first.


    After a long pause, he finally sighed. "Alright, you can call yourself whatever you want. I won''t argue with you about that anymore.


    The reason I came here today was to ask you toe home. Raven-Star-what happened before, I was too rash. I owe you an apology, and I hope you won''t hold it against me."


    That was one thing about Skyler-he knew when to bend and when to stand firm. If he hadn''t, Ste''s mother would never have relented so many times when he tried to make peace.


    Ste''s expression remained unreadable. "I ept your apology. But I have my own life now, and I don''t want to go back. I hope you''ll cooperate with the paperwork for the name change."


    Skyler tried again, "Star, please, don''t be stubborn. I know life hasn''t been easy for you these past years. The O''Briens didn''t know your worth-they had the nerve to mistreat my daughter. Star, I''ll stand up for you if you want me to."


    Ste shook her head. "That''s not necessary. I''m an adult. I can handle my own problems. If there''s nothing else, I''ll be going."


    Skyler wanted to say more, but Jonathan gently stopped him, shaking his head. "Dad, Ste''s still upset. Let''s give her some time to cool off."


    Skyler''s voice was heavy. "But if she agrees to let the Watsons adopt her..."


    "She won''t." Jonathan said calmly, "We''ve already made our position clear. If she agreed to their adoption, it would mean choosing their side over ours. The Williams family has never wronged her. After she came back, she nevercked for anything. And you were never as strict with her as you were with Aurora. What happened between her and Sherman at the party would have been humiliating for any family, not just ours. Besides, you gave her a choice. She has no reason to resent you for that. No matter what happens, you''re still her father."


    Skyler let out a heavy sigh. "I hope you''re right."


    ...


    After leaving Skyler, Ste didn''t go to see Nicolle right away. Instead, she called Antoney.


    "Hey, are you free right now? I need to talk to you."


    Antoney already knew that Mr. Burton had called her away, and he''d seen Nicolle at the concert earlier. He could guess that Ste had learned the truth about his family.


    After a moment''s silence, he replied, "I''ll be in the back garden. Meet me there."


    When Ste arrived, Antoney was sitting on a bench in the gazebo, shoulders slumped, his whole face clouded with gloom. He''d worn that look for weeks now, and until she''d met Nicolle, Ste hadn''t understood why. Now, everything was clear.


    She sat beside him. "I ran into Mr. Watson just now."


    Antoney''s head snapped up, a sharp glint chasing away the shadows in his eyes. "What did he say to you? Did he threaten you?"


    "No." Ste shook her head. "Mr. Watson wants to adopt me and he offered me ten percent of hispany''s shares."


    Antoney stared at her, stunned. "You''re sure he didn''t try to intimidate you? Star, promise me you''re not hiding anything."


    met


    "There''s nothing to hide." Ste looked out at the peaceful garden, her voice calm. "We grew up together you know what kind person I am. Do I look like someone who''d just swallow my problems


    instead of speaking up?"


    Some of the tension left Antoney''s face. He knew she''d never keep something


    from him out of some misguided sense of protection.


    He drew a slow breath, and then told her everything-his whole story, from beginning to end.


    When he finished, he said quietly, "Star, I never meant to keep this from you. I just... I don''t want to go back."


    He knew that once Ste heard the truth, she''d try to convince him to return.


    She asked Why don''t you want to


    go? From what I saw, your mom and Mr. Watson don''t seem to have any deep


    o resentment between them. Or... is it because you can''t ept having a half-sister?"