Nick stormed in, barely keeping his footing. He looked a wreck—shirt crumpled, eyes bloodshot, and the stale scent of alcohol clinging to him. Yet, for all that, he was wide awake, Aaron's news crashing into his mind like a shock of cold water. He hadn't even bothered to sober up before showing up here. He'd thought there'd be time, maybe a day, to sort things out. But instead, here was Amelia, face-to-face with Mrs. Zhao, practically serving herself up to a shark.
"What the hell, Mom?" His voice rose, sharp with a mix of disbelief and fury. "How could you say things like that to Amelia?" He moved closer, his face inches from hers, jaw set, fists clenched. "Maddie's your granddaughter, your own blood. You can't give her even a shred of decency, of hope?"
