Chapter 3
Lucas retorted, "Save your breath. What if this whole thing is a trap I set up for Yvette?
"Let's see which one of us drives her out first."
After things finally calmed down, I headed downstairs to get some water.
At the end of the hallway, Ethan was leaning against a thick marble pillar, his eyes dark and brooding.
I flashed a smile, trying to win him over, and called out, "Ethan, are you..."
Ethan grabbed my wrist, cutting me off.
He sneered, "You think you've won, don't you? Now that Sabrina's gone."
I stayed silent.
He thought he had me all figured out.
His grip tightened until my wrist went numb, and he growled, "Of course. I knew it."
Putting on an aggrieved expression, I protested, my voice trembling, "You're wrong. I want her back even more than you do."
"You really expect me to believe that?" he sneered.
I tried to smile, but it came out broken. Catching his annoyed look, I turned on the waterwork.
"Because... if Sabrina comes back, you and Lucas could finally be happy again," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
Ethan yanked his hand away, as if my skin burned him.
Unlike Lucas, Ethan was sold off by his own parents and, after being passed around, ended up in an orphanage.
His walls were built higher and thicker than anyone's.
Even though his expression flickered for a moment, he kept his jaw clenched and leaned in, his voice threatening right in my ear.
He sneered, "Is this the trick you used on Lucas?"
He let out a cold snort. "Nice try. If you love staying here so much, enjoy it while it lasts. Sleep tight for a few more nights.
"Who knows? Maybe one morning you'll wake up dumped in the middle of nowhere."
"Goodnight, dear sister," he said, his voice dripping with mockery.
The black door with gold trim closed in my face.
I lifted my gaze, remembering the coldness in his eyes as he walked away.
Broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and that silk shirt that screamed money—he really did ooze that rich kid vibe.
Someone like him groveling to curry my favor. That was a sight to behold.
Early in the morning, I was surprised to find Lucas and Ethan actually sitting at the dining table with me.
Usually, they'd ditch me and head out without even looking back.
They always said I wasn't fit to eat with them.
But today, almost like they'd rehearsed it, they slid a sandwich and a glass of milk across the table toward me.
"Yvette, today's your entrance exam. It's important," Lucas said, his voice softer than usual.
"Eat well, so you'll be at your best." He almost sounded concerned.
In the original story, after Yvette ate the sandwich and drank the milk they handed her, she had a bad allergic reaction.
She failed the exam and was placed in the lowest-ranked class.
After that, Mark and Sylvia never stopped tearing her down, saying she'd embarrassed them in front of everyone.
When I just sat there, not touching my food, Ethan gave me a frosty stare and drummed his fingers impatiently on the table.
He said, voice laced with sarcasm, "What's wrong? Last night you were all about making me and Lucas happy.
"Now we just want you to have breakfast. Are you gonna say no?"
My tears hit the table as I slowly lifted my head.
"This sandwich is Sabrina's favorite, right?" I asked quietly.
"And ham and eggs. I know, because I checked," I added, my voice trembling.
Lucas and Ethan both froze, then dropped their gazes to the table.
Right now, there was no way I could earn their sympathy.
Even knowing exactly what they were trying to pull, I still choked down the whole sandwich.
I showed Ethan the empty plate, my voice catching in my throat.
I said, "I'm allergic to wheat, you know.
"But you gave it to me, so I finished it all."
With Lucas staring at me in shock, I dialed for an ambulance.
Red rashes started creeping up from my neck to my chin, but I tried to act cool and clung to Ethan's sleeve.
"Ethan, next time, maybe you could make me cornmeal mush instead?" I whispered, sounding pitiful.
Lucas wiped the sweat from his forehead, his voice tight with panic. "Are you seriously thinking about food now?
"Yvette, are you trying to get yourself killed?"
I just smiled softly to myself.
"By the way, I just got back, and Mom and Dad haven't given me my allowance yet," I said, keeping my voice low and pitiful.
"Mind if I borrow some cash for the hospital bill? I'll pay you back, I promise," I added, trying to sound as helpless as possible.
Ethan's eyes narrowed as he slapped his bank card on the table and yanked Lucas up by the arm.
Ethan muttered, clearly annoyed, "The PIN's Sabrina's birthday.
"Let's go. We're late."
They rushed out. Outside, the ambulance passed their car as they drove off toward the school.
After the paramedics got me into the ambulance, the red in my eyes started to fade.
One of the paramedics said, giving me a strange look, "That's odd, miss.
"Honestly, this doesn't look like a typical food allergy. If anything, it seems more like..."
I grabbed my backpack and asked them to pull over.
"Looks like a drug reaction," I replied, keeping my voice calm.
The moment I spotted the sandwich, I knew what to do.
I doctored the milk myself.
The allergy was real, but winning Lucas' and Ethan's sympathy wasn't the point.
What really mattered was passing the entrance exam and making sure Mark and Sylvia finally saw me.