Chapter 1

My brother, Michael Quinn, had his hands around my neck, eyes bloodshot as he snarled, "Why did you put mango in Edith's cake?"

My mom, Linda, stormed over and slapped me hard across the face, calling me an ungrateful snake who was trying to murder the daughter she'd spent twenty years raising.

My dad, Richard, watched us indifferently, and then called in a lawyer to disown me on the spot.

They said there was no place in this family for a vicious monster like me.

I figured they were right.

So when that icy voice popped into my head, asking if I'd trade my death for a whole new life, I agreed without a second thought.

At Edith Quinn's twentieth birthday party, with all the guests watching, I smiled and jumped off the rooftop.

I gave them a gift that would last forever—my life.

From that day forward, regret would be the only epitaph for the rest of their lives.

*****

"Nora, what did you do to Edith this time?" Michael roared.

A steaming spoon loaded with thick soup crashed down on the back of my hand, instantly raising an angry red welt.

Michael's handsome face was twisted with rage, and he stood there like a lion protecting its cub, shielding Edith, who was coughing violently behind him.

"Michael, don't blame Nora. It was my own fault." Edith's face was flushed from coughing, her eyes moist with hurt, but she was still desperately trying to "defend" me.

Look at that, textbook playing-the-victim. What a good actress.

I lowered my gaze, watching the back of my hand swell up fast. It stung like hell.

Edith left after being found out that she was not a real Quinn, and today was her first "welcome back" dinner with the Quinns. She had stolen my place for 20 years.

As for me, I'd only been brought back to this so-called home for three months.

At the dinner table, Linda was soothing Edith's back with concern, and then shot me a look like I was nothing but annoying garbage.

"Nora, how many times have I told you? Edith is allergic to peanuts. Are you deaf, or are you doing this on purpose?" Linda barked at me.

I opened my mouth, but the words were stuck in my throat.

The steak salad was Richard's favorite, and also the result of my entire afternoon in the kitchen.

I knew for a fact I hadn't put any peanut bits in it.

"I didn't," I said, my voice dry and hoarse.

"You dare talk back to me?" Michael snarled, gripping my wrist so tightly that I thought he might snap my bones. "Edith's already suffering, and you still want to deny it?

"Now that you're back, you think Edith should get lost? How can you be so vicious?"

Agonizing pain shot through my wrist, and I hissed, gasping from the sudden sting.

Me? Vicious? Please, I couldn't compare to any of them.

I lifted my head, stared right into Michael's fiery eyes, and repeated, slow and clear, "I didn't put any peanuts in it."

"Enough!" Richard, who had been silent the whole time, finally set down his fork.

His expression, always commanding even without anger, was now cold as ice.

He didn't even look at me. Instead, he turned to his assistant and said in a chilling tone, "Call the family doctor, and take this dish away. From now on, Nora is banned from the kitchen."

Just like that, I was found guilty.

Not even a trial, not a single chance to explain myself.

In this family, whatever Edith said was gospel, and just existing was my sin.

I watched as the four of them crowded around Edith, showering her with concern, while I stood off to the side, like some invisible nobody stranded on a frozen wasteland.

The burn on my hand and the bruise on my wrist suddenly felt utterly laughable.

Seriously, what was I even expecting?

I quietly got up, wanting to get out of this suffocating dining room.

"Stop right there!" Linda snapped. "Apologize to Edith, right now."

I froze in place.

'Me? Apologize to the one who framed me?

"Mom, Nora didn't do it on purpose, really. Please don't be mad at her." Edith was still playing the sweet, innocent card, her voice soft but loud enough for everyone to hear.

Michael's glare grew even icier. "Nora, did you hear that? Apologize to Edith. Don't let me make you."

His hand was already in the air, ready to come down the second I dared say no.

I looked at Michael, then Linda, and then Richard.

Every single one of them had the same look on their face.

Disgust, impatience, and coldness.

It was as if I wasn't their daughter or family at all, but some mortal enemy they'd never forgive.