Chapter 2

After what felt like forever, the door that had kept me locked away finally opened.

As soon as I stepped outside, the sunlight was so harsh that it stung my eyes.

"Do you know what you did wrong?" Noah asked, looking down at me with that cold, superior gaze.

I was so weak that I could barely move, so all I could do was nod.

Noah hauled me out of the storage room like I was nothing.

"Natalie, let me make this clear," Noah said, his voice icy and menacing. "The house is packed with relatives and friends for dinner, and Olivia's the one who got accepted to college, not you.

"No one's going to buy your story. If you dare to fight back again, you'll wish you were dead."

He spat out the threat, and I could see the madness in his eyes. For Olivia, he'd go to any lengths, even if it meant destroying me.

While Noah was distracted, I grabbed my hard-earned cash from my part-time job and made a run for it. I didn't have a single friend left; the only person I could count on now was Jack Hunter.

Jack was someone I met during my part-time job. He was a few years older than me, wore glasses, and had that gentle, bookish vibe, exactly the kind of guy girls couldn't help but fall for.

Back when I was getting bullied at work, he stood up for me.

I waited downstairs at Jack's place, noticing his apartment lights were on. I rang the doorbell from outside, but it was a while before Jack finally came to let me in.

"Hey, Natalie, what brings you here?" Jack asked.

I didn't say anything. As soon as I saw him, my eyes started to tear up. I just went up and hugged him, crying against his shoulder, all my frustration pouring out.

"Hey, it's alright," Jack soothed, gently patting my back. "Don't cry. Was it your family again? If they're giving you trouble, just tell me. I'll stand up for you."

"Jack, Noah forced Olivia to steal my spot at college. Now I've lost my chance to go to school," I said.

I just wanted to tell someone how wronged I felt, but I didn't even know who I could turn to.

"Hey, it's okay. Are you alright?" Jack asked.

"Jack, I'm really scared. Noah locked me up. Can you come with me to the police station? Right now, you're the only person I can rely on," I pleaded.

But just as I finished speaking, Olivia strolled out of Jack's bedroom in her pajamas, acting all cute and pouty. "Jack, if you go to the police with Natalie, what about me?"

The next moment, Jack tossed me aside onto the floor, his whole attitude flipping in an instant. He stared down at me like I was something filthy, all the warmth gone from his eyes.

Olivia wasted no time sliding up next to him, grabbing his arm. "Jack, who do you like more, me or Natalie?"

"Obviously you," Jack said, pulling Olivia into his arms and holding her by the waist. "Just hugging that bitch made me want to gag. She reeks. Does her family not even let her take a shower?"

I'd been locked up for three days, desperate to get out and find Jack. Who had time for a shower? No wonder I reeked.

"Olivia? Why are you here?" I blurted out.

Olivia just slid her arms around Jack's neck, flashing a smug smile. "Take a guess. Why do you think I'm here?"

I couldn't believe what I was seeing. I pointed at Jack, my voice trembling. "So you two have been together this whole time?" I turned to Olivia.

"Yeah, so what?" Olivia shot back before Jack could answer, her tone full of scorn. "Pathetic losers like you deserve to have everything taken away."

Jack didn't hesitate. He just kicked me hard, sending me sprawling out the door. "You bitch, are you ever going to stop being such a pain? Get the hell out of my place right now. Just seeing you makes me sick."

I kept my head lowered, making sure they couldn't catch the crazy smirk curling at my lips.

This time, Olivia had finally snatched up everything I'd ever arranged for her. Finally, I was free of her, once and for all.