Chapter 3

Two days later, at Grandma's funeral, I finally saw my brother Kevin.

He showed up late, his gaze still full of worry for me, but he was followed by Jack and Chloe.

My heart suddenly clenched in pain. Everything I feared was true. Kevin had changed long before I even realized it.

I stood up, planting myself firmly in front of Chloe, blocking her way without hesitation.

Locking eyes with Kevin, I tore the words from my throat, my voice raw and broken from crying. "Tell her to get the hell out."

Kevin's eyes narrowed. He reached out, trying to pull me into a hug, but I dodged him.

"Scarlett, I'm sorry. When you called, I was stuck in an emergency meeting. I didn't hear about Grandma until it was over. Please, don't feel guilty. None of this is your fault," he said.

My eyes were bloodshot as I repeated, my voice hoarse, "I said, tell Chloe to leave."

I watched as Jack's expression grew increasingly grim, and Kevin's brows knitted together. They looked at me like I was some ignorant child.

Every word was full of condescension. "Scarlett, Mom and Dad are gone. I'm the only one holding the Sullivan family together, and it's tough. Your reputation is a stain. You're finished in politics.

"Even if Chloe's mom went too far, Chloe is still our sister. Scarlett, please, just step aside and let Chloe offer a white rose to Grandma. From today, she's part of the Sullivan family again. The three of us will stick together as siblings."

I felt frozen to the core, shivering uncontrollably, unable to stop.

Jack and Chloe weren't lying. Kevin, who once cared for me, had changed long before I noticed.

All of the disgrace on my name was forced onto me by him and Jack working together.

I screamed, my voice raw and desperate, "Kevin, have you forgotten how Mom died?

"What did you promise her before she passed? Do you even know how Grandma died? Chloe told me herself that she was the one who pushed Grandma to her death.

"And now you want her to come in and offer a white rose? Are you trying to make sure Grandma can never rest in peace?"

Kevin and Jack exchanged a quick glance.

Chloe's eyes filled with tears as she started to sob softly. "Kevin, I swear, I didn't do it."

Jack shot me an icy glare, his voice cold as steel. "Kevin, Chloe is my sworn sister. If the Sullivan family won't accept her, I'll bring her back to the Lawson family with me. There's no need to put her through this humiliation."

Kevin frowned, his voice stern as he lectured me. "Scarlett, stop causing trouble. The guests will be here soon to say their farewells to Grandma. This isn't the right place for you right now.

"Go to the back and let Chloe and me receive the condolences."

My hand trembled as I pointed at Chloe. "Not the right place for me, but for her? Her mother, a prostitute, killed our mom, and she killed Grandma."

Smack! I stared at Kevin in disbelief, the brother who always looked out for me growing up.

"You slapped me just for her?" I choked out.

Kevin just pulled out a handkerchief and wiped his hand, as if I were filthy.

He said, "Enough, Scarlett. Grandma was driven to her death by your shameless behavior and reckless affairs. And now you're still throwing mud at Chloe? Looks like you have lost your mind.

"Guys, take her back to the study at home and keep her there until I say so."

I clenched my jaw, staring daggers at Kevin and Jack, the word Why? Words burned in my throat. Before I could get it out, the bodyguards grabbed me and dragged me away.

But as soon as we stepped outside, the bodyguard holding me suddenly shoved me hard, purposely tossing me right at the feet of the mourners.

"Isn't that Scarlett? How does she even have the guts to show up at the funeral? No wonder she got thrown out. I heard she was the one who drove Mrs. Sullivan to her death," someone sneered.

"She's shameless. How does someone like her even have the nerve to stay at the Diplomatic Institute? She's just leeching off the Sullivan family's old reputation," another person scoffed.

"She got publicly kicked out of the Diplomatic Institute yesterday for her scandalous behavior. The one who took her place is Chloe, the Sullivan family's illegitimate daughter.

"She's gorgeous, pure despite the chaos, and so much better at handling things than this troublemaker," someone else chimed in.

I scrambled up from the ground, barely steady on my feet, when suddenly someone came out of nowhere and smashed a bucket of disgusting filth right over my head.

The stench was overwhelming, and I just stood there, stunned.

Sticky yellow and white gunk, rotten fish, shrimp, and eggs covered me from head to toe.

My ears were ringing, and all the shouting around me just turned into white noise.

The only voices I could hear were those two men who once promised to spoil me rotten.

One was Jack, who shielded Chloe's eyes. "Don't look, Chloe. It's dirty."

The other was Kevin, his voice cold as ice. "Take Scarlett home already. Are you going to let her keep making a fool of herself out here?"

My heart felt like a wasteland, blown to bits all over again. That tiny shred of hope I'd been clinging to disappeared in a puff, gone for good.

All the strength drained out of me, and the bodyguards hauled me off like I was nothing.