Chapter 3
The car sped along the winding mountain road.
It bounced and swerved through sharp turns.
Lost in pitch-black darkness, I felt the whole world spinning around me.
My stomach twisted violently, and a sour taste kept rising up my throat.
I desperately pounded on the inside of the trunk.
"Mom, I'm gonna throw up, please, let me out," I shouted, my voice trembling with panic.
But nobody answered me.
I felt feverish and dizzy, and I pounded on the trunk while my voice cracked as I kept calling for Mom.
I couldn't let myself mess up the car by throwing up in it.
One time, when I was sick with a high fever, I accidentally threw up on the floor at home.
Dad grabbed a big wooden stick and whacked me across the back.
After that, I was stuck in bed for days before I could even walk again.
After what felt like forever, I finally heard Ryan's voice, muffled and distant.
"If you dare puke in the car, don't even think about getting in the Lewis Manor!" he snapped.
The car didn't stop.
It just sped up, bouncing even harder over the rough road.
I was drenched in sweat, my clothes sticking to me like I'd just been thrown into a river.
My mind kept fading in and out, like I was drifting in and out of consciousness.
I didn't know how long it was, but eventually I lost control and threw up.
The sour, nasty smell filled the cramped space in an instant.
My mind went off like a bomb, overwhelmed by panic and shock.
Paralyzed by fear, I pulled off my ragged jacket and tried to wipe up the mess as best as I could in the pitch-black darkness.
I kept repeating it to myself. I hadn't made a mess, I hadn't made a mess.
If I wiped it up, it would be clean again.
If I got it dirty, they wouldn't let me into the Lewis Manor, and I wouldn't get to stay with Mom.
Mom was all I had.
Even though I knew she never really liked me.
Ever since I was born, all Dad ever did was hit us or scream at us.
Sometimes, the only person who'd ever be there for me, even if just for a little while, was Mom.
I struggled to wipe it up, my hands trembling.
I must've thrown up so hard that I almost passed out.
As I was nearly suffocating, I felt something warm trickle from my nose.
Instinctively, I tried to cover my nose, but my fingers just wouldn't move.
Then, in a wave of dizziness, I collapsed and blacked out.
I didn't know how long I was out, and then a furious, disgusted shout woke me.
"Get out!"
I snapped awake.
The car had stopped in the driveway of a mansion, and the trunk was wide open.
Ryan was standing outside, his face thunderous, glaring right at me.
Ethan just glanced at me, then bolted to the side and threw up.
"That's disgusting!" Ethan said, and his face twisted.
It was already dark outside, but the courtyard was bright with lamps.
That was when I finally realized, my clothes and the trunk were covered in vomit.
It was mixed with blood. It seemed I had gotten a nosebleed.
Flustered and desperate, I blurted out an apology.
"I'm sorry, I'll clean it up," I said, my voice trembling.
Ryan shot me a glare and turned away without another word.
Just then, a little girl about my age came running out of the mansion.
She was wearing a beautiful princess dress, with big, sparkling eyes.
She looked just like a real princess straight out of a fairy tale castle.
She dashed over and grabbed Mom's arm, her face lighting up with joy.
"Ms. Lewis, you're back!" she exclaimed.
Mom just stared at her, dazed.
Ryan explained, "That's Sophie from the Thompson Family.
"She insisted on coming along to pick you up.
"When she was just a baby, you even held her in your arms.
"You said that if you ever had a daughter, she'd be just like her."
Mom just stared at Sophie, her eyes welling up with tears as she drifted off, lost in thought.
I looked down, trying not to be noticed.
I just stared at my hands, covered in scars, rough and ugly.
Sophie happily grabbed Mom's arm, her voice sweet as candy.
She chirped, "Guess that makes me Ms. Lewis' goddaughter now.
"And Ethan's god-sister, too!"
Sophie and Ryan each took an arm, helping Mom inside together.
Ryan spoke to Mom in a soft, sympathetic voice.
He said, "Since we're nearby, let's stay here tonight.
"As soon as you're feeling better, we'll head back to Capital City.
"It's all behind you now, Emily. Don't be afraid.
"Mr. Grant said he'll be flying back tomorrow.
"He wants to remarry you."
Mom suddenly cut him off, her voice sharp and urgent.
"No!"
Ryan froze for a second.
He gently took Mom's hand, his heart aching for her.
I couldn't hear what Mom said next.
He turned back and gave me a dirty look, full of disgust.
When he spoke to Mom again, his voice was softer, almost a whisper.
He said, "Don't worry.
"I'll figure something out and send her away as soon as possible. There's no way the Lewis Family will keep her."