Maya's POV
I had barely closed the door behind Damon's father when the doorbell rang again. My heart sank—what more could he possibly want?
Taking a deep breath, I pulled the door open. Instantly, I felt the blood drain from my face. Standing there with a cold, almost cruel smile was my mother, with my brother Justin looming behind her.
"Mom?!" My legs wobbled, threatening to give out beneath me.
"Did you miss me, Maya? Did you think I would simply forget about you?" She laughed, the sound devoid of any warmth. "A mother never forgets her child, especially one as disobedient as you."
"Mom, of course I missed you!" I attempted to embrace her, but she sidestepped my gesture, sending a sharp pain through my heart.
"Aren't you going to invite me in, ungrateful daughter?" Her voice cut like ice. I wordlessly stepped aside, and she strode past me. Justin followed, pausing only to roughly muss my hair and yank my ear—a painful habit he'd maintained since outgrowing me years ago.
