Chapter 1

I was the real heiress the Avery family finally brought home, but honestly, even the fake heiress's dog had a better life than me.

One time, when Alisha Avery just coughed, my brother slapped me right across the face.

He said I was only thinking about myself, didn't even bother to tell Alisha to dress warmly, so I deserved it.

Then he actually took off my coat and gave it to Alisha.

He wouldn't even let me ride in the car. Instead, he forced me to walk over an hour to school in the biting cold, while it was way below freezing.

At dinner, I took one more piece of sweet and sour ribs than I should have, the ones Alisha loved most.

Mom just flung her fork right at my face.

She said I didn't know how to share, blamed my foster brother for spoiling me, and handed the whole plate over to Alisha.

To "fix" my so-called bad habits, she made me go hungry for three days.

When I called the cops, they just had Alisha handle it, then decided to starve me for a few more days anyway.

I was locked in my room, starving and barely hanging on.

Right before I passed out, I used every bit of strength I had to send a text to Camden Murray, my former foster brother, using my backup phone.

I wrote: [Camden, I think I'm dying. Can you come get me?

[I don't want that so-called good life you talked about anymore. I really miss you.]

Camden's call came through almost instantly.

The old phone buzzed in my hand.

It was just like all those times he carried me down the mountain.

Back then, I'd be clinging to his back, listening to his voice shake with every breath.

In that haze, it suddenly dawned on me.

I hadn't heard his voice in ten years.

Honestly, I figured he'd have forgotten my number ages ago.

Ten years was a long time...

This phone was the very first gift Camden ever gave me.

Ever since I almost got lost in the mountains, he developed separation anxiety.

he developed separation anxiety.

I was the only kid at school who had a phone.

Everyone else was jealous of me.

I really did feel happy back then.

Even though we didn't have much, that kind of happiness was something money couldn't buy.

But then one day, the Avery family came looking for me.

They said I was their real heiress and wanted to take me out of the mountains, back to their world.

I didn't even hesitate. I turned them down right away.

I had no clue what being the real heiress was supposed to mean.

But the vibe they gave off, like I wasn't worth their time, totally freaked me out.

I clung to Camden's back, showing the Avery family nothing but the stubborn back of my head.

I never knew what the Avery family said to Camden.

When the Avery family left, Camden transferred my registration to them.

Through his tears, he said, "Arianna, go with the Averys. Life will be good there. They'll love you, I promise."

His tears totally shocked me. I was frozen in place.

When my foster parents died in that car accident,

Camden didn't shed a single tear.

Last time he cried, it was because he thought he'd lost me.

I didn't want him to be upset, so with my little hands, always kept clean, I softly wiped away his tears.

With tears in my eyes, I managed a smile and said to him, "Camden, I want to go with the Avery family. I want to try that good life you promised. But don't cry, okay? Otherwise, I'll worry about leaving you behind."

Camden gritted his teeth, holding back his tears.

His eyes were still glistening with emotion.

I remember that look to this day because no one else in this world would ever cry for me but him.

After I was brought to live with the Avery family, they changed my name.

All the stuff I brought with me? They tossed it out.

That old phone was the only thing I managed to hide and keep.

Every bit of money I saved went into paying its phone bill.

I kept adding more credit to it, just in case.

I always told myself, if Camden ever called me or even just sent a single text, I'd drop everything here and go back to him in a heartbeat.

And right now, I was ready to drop everything and go back.

But I couldn't answer Camden's call. The buttons on the old phone just wouldn't work.

No matter how hard I pressed, I just couldn't pick up.

My vision was spinning, everything going fuzzy.

All I had to do was pick up the phone, and I'd hear Camden's voice.

And I could leave this place.

It should've been so simple.

Maybe fate just loved messing with me.

It let me have every bit of Camden's love, then ripped it away from me.

Now it dangled a sliver of hope for me to break free from the Avery family, only to yank it away before I could even reach for it.

I watched my old phone stubbornly light up with his call, refusing to give up.

It was just like Camden, always so stubborn.

I gave a bitter little laugh. I really thought he would never reach out to me again.

In all those ten years, he never called or texted me, not a single time.

I just wanted to hear his voice one last time before I died.

After all, Camden was the only one who ever loved me.

I knew it was asking for too much, but I just wanted a little warmth before I left this world.

My eyelids flickered, and I could only watch, powerless, as Camden's call ended before I could answer.

He tried again, but the call dropped.

He kept calling, but every time, the connection failed before I could pick up.