Chapter 4

It took me a long time to finally see who it was. My sister.

And just like that, all those memories came flooding back. The ones from that cheap, run-down house they'd made us live in. The little moments when my sister and I made the best of a bad situation.

Sneaking a half-melted piece of candy after our parents fell asleep. Taking turns keeping watch while the other watched TV. Finding a couple of bucks on the street, buying one popsicle, snapping it in half, and sharing it.

I used to think that even if we were poor, at least we had each other.

But now? She was standing there in a fancy gown, not a hair out of place. Sure, she was stumbling a little, but one could tell with one look that she and I lived in two different worlds now.

Zane got a little embarrassed. He bowed again and kept making excuses.

"Ms. Bennett, this ugly freak scared you earlier. I was just taking him away to deal with it. Don't you worry. I know what I'm doing. Won't ruin your big day."

"There's no need to go that hard on someone who's sick!"

My sister's voice was firm. Almost shaky, like she was holding back tears.

"If my brother were still here... he might have ended up just like this."

Good. In their minds, I was already gone.

I held back my tears and buried my face deep in my chest.

My sister slowly shuffled over and crouched down in front of me.

"Don't be scared. You've got a job. That's something to be proud of. My parents found this really good hospital. I'm already doing much better. They say I might even make a full recovery.

"When that happens, I'll come find you. I'll use my allowance to get you treated too."

I'd heard Stella talk about that hospital. A cure cost millions.

So my sister, the one who used to split a single candy with me, now had that much pocket money.

I swallowed the bitterness in my chest and held onto a tiny shred of comfort. I nodded like I was half asleep.

Then my dad came out looking for her and tore me a new one.

"You freak! My daughter was just being polite, and you actually nodded along as if you deserved it? Who the hell do you think you are?"

He ran up and kicked me. All that fake classy charm he'd been putting on went right out the window.

My sister Mia jumped in to stop him.

"Dad, remember when I was little? You'd take me to Michelin-starred restaurants after Lucas fell asleep. You'd take me golfing, horseback riding, and to the movies while he was out collecting bottles.

"You always said boys would find their own way once they got married, but girls needed a head start. So I kept your secret for you.

"I owe him so much already. Helping this boy is my way of making it up to Lucas's spirit upstairs. Are you really going to stop me from doing that?"

My body went stiff.

I never knew Mia was that good of an actress. And she'd been at it since she was a kid.

My dad looked uncomfortable. My mom just stood there crying in silence.

"You were having nightmares every single night when you saw how he walked! I couldn't stand seeing you like that!

"And besides, once you found out how much money we really had, weren't you worried too? Your brother couldn't lift a finger to help. He'd just take a cut of what should be yours.

"And then if he got married, his wife would take it anyway. That's how boys are. They're not like daughters. They get married and forget their parents. That's why I pushed us to leave so fast!

"And when you started crying for Mommy, she came right back to you after only a month with that jinx.

"We don't owe that little bastard anything, sweetheart. The three of us sticking together and living a good life? That's all that matters."

My twisted fingers dug into my shirt. I was terrified I'd start sobbing out loud.

Turns out the only one I thought was innocent, my sister, was the one pulling the strings behind this whole disaster.

I used to think I'd just lost my looks. Now I knew the truth. My whole life was a clown show.

And I was finally playing the part.

My sister let out a long sigh.

"You know what? You're right. I'm a rich girl at heart. All those years pretending to be poor just to sell the lie to him? I suffered through that, too. So I guess that counts as me doing my part as his sister."

She handed Zane a gift.

"Forget everything I just said. Take him away and handle it however your rules say."

Zane couldn't stop grinning. He bowed like a bobblehead and grabbed me by the collar again.

This time I didn't even bother fighting back. I let him yank it and leave a deep bruise on my neck.

In my final moments, I thought about Stella. And somewhere deep down, a tiny spark flickered.

"Sorry I couldn't keep my promise. It's just... living is way too hard."

Zane had only dragged me a few steps when a bottle came flying out of nowhere and smacked him right in the head. He yelped, let go of me, and started cursing up a storm.

Then I heard a cold female voice.

"This is how you treat my patient?"

I thought I was already dead and just hallucinating.

But no. Stella was standing there with a carry-on suitcase.

She looked at me with this mix of anger and disappointment.

"Lucas Bennett. You're giving up again? Did you forget what you promised me?"

The second they heard that name, my parents and sister all froze in their tracks on their way back to the banquet hall.