Chapter 5

His look of disgust just made me laugh. "Braxton, chill—doesn't matter if you ignore me. I'm just your loyal pup anyway."

I must've sounded louder than I thought there—suddenly, even I startled myself and spun around to check.

Mom's door was still cracked open, but there wasn't any sign she'd woken up yet.

Braxton shoved past me into the room. "I'm not keeping you around as my dog anymore. You called me a stand-in in front of the whole family? That's it. Go wash up and follow me—we're getting a divorce."

I jumped and grabbed his arm. "Keep it down! My mom can't take another shock!"

Braxton sneered. "So, what is it? You afraid your mom will find out you're just my dog, or scared she'll learn you're using me as a stand-in?"

I slapped my hand over his mouth. "Please, just stop! For old times' sake, don't say another word!"

Braxton pried my hand away. "For old times' sake? You grew up with me, but then you got close to my brother behind my back—and used me as a stand-in?"

I closed my eyes, feeling utterly exhausted inside.

I begged him, "Braxton, just... let me have a few more years. I swear, I'll leave—give Lacey the place she deserves. Is that enough?"

Braxton's eyes dropped, his lashes throwing deep shadows below.

He tapped my shoulder. "Cambria, be honest—did you ever actually care about me? Let's face it, you want out of this marriage even more than I do, don't you?"

I didn't answer.

Braxton gave a cold smile, his eyes icy. "So, that's your answer? Just gonna stay quiet and let me think you admit it?"

I stayed silent.

He kept asking me to prove I cared about him—to show him I wasn't just treating him as a stand-in.

No matter what I tried, he never believed me.

So in the end, I just stopped trying to explain.

Braxton lounged on the couch, legs crossed, a cruel smirk tugging at his lips.

That look meant he was furious. "Cambria, you slapped Karlie right in front of everyone, and now she wants to call the cops. So, what are you going to do about it?"

I let out a sigh. "Alright, what do you want?"

Braxton leisurely took out his phone, dialed a number, and shoved it toward me. "When I was leaving, Karlie said she wanted to hear you bark like a dog. Why don't you do her a favor? Maybe crack her up and she'll drop the whole thing."

I stared at him, frozen—couldn't believe he just said that.

Braxton waved the phone closer. "If you don't, she'll get pissed and call the cops. They'll toss you in a cell for a couple days. Just picture your mom freaking out when she can't find you."

My fingers trembled as I took the phone, giving Braxton a look. "Braxton, since when did you master the art of destroying someone without even laying a finger?"

Braxton just gave me that silent, smug smile, like he knew for sure I didn't have the guts to say no.

I really couldn't refuse. Quietly, I pressed the phone to my ear.

The line connected, and Karlie's voice rang out, sharp. "Braxton, are you actually going to stand up for me or not?"

My lips moved, but nothing came out. I just stared at Braxton, pleading with my eyes, desperate.

I begged him, silently, to change his mind, to spare me, and to stop slicing away what little pride I had left.

But Braxton looked at me, stone cold. "So? Are you going to bark, or should your mom visit you behind bars? It's your choice."

I clenched my eyes shut and bit down so hard on my lip I tasted blood—guess pain's the only way I could keep it together right now.

I fumbled to pull the bedroom door closed, rushing so fast that I didn't even hear when something fell to the floor inside.

With my eyes closed, I whispered under my breath, "Karlie, it's Cambria.

"About last night—I slapped you. I'm really sorry."

Tears streamed down my face, and my stomach twisted so violently that it was like acid burning straight up my throat.

I clutched my throat and crouched down, voice shaking. "Please, I'm sorry—I swear it won't happen again."

Karlie paused, then gave a soft, almost sweet laugh. "So you know you screwed up? How about barking for me—let's hear it."

Her voice sounded so young, but there was something cruel lurking in all that innocence.

I glanced toward my mom's bedroom, bit down hard on my lip, and choked out, "Woof."

Karlie burst out laughing. "Not bad, you really do sound the part!"

I hung up and handed the phone back to Braxton.

Pain tore through me, but I forced myself to stay silent.

It was agony that tore right through me.

I looked up at Braxton, the blood still wet at the corner of my mouth.

I said, "Mr. Compton, was my barking good enough for you? Realistic enough? Did I nail the loyal dog thing? Did Karlie have fun with it? Should I do an encore for Lacey too, just to keep her entertained?"

Braxton kept his eyes down and didn't say a word. After a long pause, he just got up and walked out.

As soon as he left, I clutched my chest and sank down onto the floor, fighting for every breath.

I knew my condition was acting up, but I hadn't brought any of my meds.

Everything went black; my body went rigid; and I was so dizzy I couldn't even stand.

Right before I passed out, I was actually thankful that my mom was still asleep—at least she didn't have to witness what her daughter was suffering.

If she saw all this, it would crush her.

When I finally came to, it felt like I'd been trapped in that sleep for ages.