Chapter 2

Kara stood at the doorway, wiping her tears. "Trix, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to..."

I said, shoving the photo frame to the bottom of the box, "It's fine. As long as you like it."

Randolph couldn't stand it anymore. "Trix, there's still a spare room on the third floor..."

I said with a smile, "No, thanks. It's just easier for me to stay at my place."

Cole was there too.

He frowned at me. "Trix, don't act like you're the victim."

I picked up the box, frowning. "I'm not upset."

Cole was at a loss for words.

Kara immediately whispered, "Cole, please don't be so harsh to Trix..."

Cole's tone softened instantly. "It's okay, Kara. I'm right here."

I watched them acting all sweet together and quietly carried my box downstairs.

Andrea caught up to me at the stairwell landing and stopped me. "Trix, it's not that I don't love you. It's just Kara..."

I said, turning to face her, "I know. Andrea, whatever makes you happy."

I'd said that so many times before.

Back when I was a kid, she'd gush over the neighbor girl for being so obedient, and I'd just say, "Whatever makes you happy, Andrea."

When she bragged about my cousin's grades, I'd say, "Whatever makes you happy, Andrea."

It always felt like if I just kept being the sensible, understanding kid, maybe I could earn a bit of love.

But now, things had changed.

I saw the panic and guilt flicker in her eyes, and suddenly, it struck me as almost laughable.

She'd always known she was playing favorites, but she just expected me to bottle up all my hurt and deal with it on my own.

I said with a smile, "Andrea, you don't need to explain yourself to me. Honestly, I'm not upset at all."

She froze.

I said, pulling my hand back, "Because now I know it's not that I'm not good enough.

"Turns out, your love just isn't worth much."

As I turned and walked downstairs, I felt lighter than I ever had before.

The next morning, I went back to the house to pick up some things, and Kara "accidentally" broke the emerald bracelet my grandma left me.

It was the only thing I had left of her.

The bracelet shattered into three pieces, landing on the marble floor with a crisp, piercing sound.

Kara immediately started crying, looking as fragile as a rain-soaked blossom. "Trix, I'm so sorry. My hand slipped. I swear I didn't mean it..."

Cole quickly stepped in front of her, shielding her. "It's just a bracelet, Trix. Don't overreact."

Andrea rushed over, glanced at the shattered pieces, and sighed. "Trix, I'll get you a new one. Kara didn't do it on purpose."

Randolph frowned. "That's enough, everyone. Let's not talk about it anymore."

I didn't say anything. I knelt down and picked up the shards one by one.

The emerald was so sharp that blood beaded on my fingers almost instantly.

I said calmly as I stood up, "It's fine. Out with the old, in with the new. Guess that's how it goes with people, too."

Before Kara could even process what was happening, I was already at her favorite antique piano. the one she loved more than anything.

Andrea had gifted it to her just last month.

Right after I said that, I grabbed the piano bench and slammed it onto the keys, over and over, not holding back for a second.

As Kara screamed and rushed over, I grabbed the photo frame she'd just set on the piano lid.

Inside was a picture of her and Cole together.

I said, dropping it right in front of her, "Oops, guess my hand slipped, too."

The crack as it shattered was loud and harsh.

Cole tried to step forward, but I held up my hand to stop him. "Don't be so eager. I'm not finished yet."

I turned to my parents, their faces drained of color. "Dad, Mom, all these years I kept thinking maybe I just wasn't good enough for you. Maybe that's why you were always comparing me to other people's kids

"But now I finally get it. It's not me, it's you. You never deserved a good kid."

I picked up my bag from the floor and walked past Kara, whispering, "A knockoff will never be the real deal.

"Even if you live with the Prestons, deep down, you're still that sad little thing who needs to lie just to feel loved."

As I left, Kara's desperate wails rang out behind me.

I shot off a text to Ryan. [Let's kick off the next phase.]

He replied instantly: [Been ready for ages.]

I looked up at the sky.

The sky over Ammara City was dull and gray. just like the ten years I'd spent living under the Prestons' roof.

But soon, I'd finally get to see what real light looks like. On my birthday, the Prestons threw a lavish party.

The invitation was printed in gold letters. [You are cordially invited to the homecoming dinner for Kara Hayes, the daughter of the Preston family.]

It wasn't my birthday party. It was Kara's official welcome into the family.

But I still got strong-armed into showing up.

At the party, Kara sat at the piano in her designer gown worth a fortune, her performance dazzling the crowd and earning thunderous applause.

The guests leaned in, whispering, "That's the real Preston heiress right there."

Someone murmured, "Wait, isn't today Trix's birthday?"

Andrea overheard and forced a smile. "Oh, right. Trix, come over and cut the cake."

The cake was a three-tiered pink fondant extravaganza. It was Kara's choice.

It was that same shade of pink I'd always hated growing up.

Cole fed Kara a bite of cake. "Is it sweet?"

Kara nodded, her eyes lighting up. "It's sweet! Try some, Cole."

I put down the knife and told my parents, "I'm full."

As I turned to leave, I heard someone behind me whisper, "Trix is so odd. No wonder Cole chose Kara over her."