Chapter 4

EMILY

We sat in the hospital hallway, silence stretching between us. The doctor had told us Dad had suffered a minor heart attack, but assured us he’d recover quickly. Nothing alarming. Just a warning sign to slow down.

Still, my hands were clenched around the paper in my lap. I was angry.

Dad bought a car for Lisa—Lisa—who basically does nothing. And I was pretty sure she was the one who asked for it.

Who knows? Maybe the stress of all this nonsense didn’t help. But deep down, I knew the heart attack wasn’t because of the car. The doctor said it had been building—just one of those things that creeps up when no one’s looking.

Even so, my chest ached.

I had a feeling Mom supported the idea just because Lisa asked for it. She always does. She tolerates a lot from Lisa, and it’s honestly exhausting.Mom works as an accountant at a small bank in our community. I never understood why she hadn’t at least suggested Lisa tag along, shadow her, or try something that didn’t need a degree. But no—Lisa gets to lounge around and

then demand a car?

I looked at her, heat bubbling in my throat.

“You sit at home, do nothing, and still have the nerve to ask them for a car?” I

snapped.

Lisa shifted uncomfortably, but didn’t say a word.

Mum turned to me . While Racheal just looked confused.

Mom hesitated, then said softly,

“Emily… she wanted to drive for Uber.”

“An Uber?” I scoffed. “Mom, I seriously doubt that’s what she wants it for. She’s just a selfish brat who wants the luxuries of life without lifting a finger. She’s too idle to work, so she runs to you and Dad for everything.”

Lisa's eyes dropped to the floor.

"You're always so quick to judge," she mumbled.

My anger boiled over.

"If anything happens to Dad, it's on you, Lisa!"

I knew Dad's condition wasn’t critical—but I wanted her to feel the guilt. Just once.

Just then, the doctor emerged.“Mr. Steele is stable. We’ve given him some meds. He’s unconscious now, but when he wakes up, you’ll all be able to see him,” he said.

We thanked the doctor, still numb.

"I'm going to stay with him," Mom said, standing and heading down the hall.

Lisa stood up too and walked off—God knows where. Probably just trying to avoid another round of accusations from me.

That left me and Racheal alone.

The silence was heavy, almost suffocating.

And in that silence, all I could think about was how different things used to be.

When we were little, Racheal and I were inseparable. More than just sisters— best friends. We shared everything: secrets, clothes, dreams, even toothbrushes once when we were seven & twelve and stupid.

Even with our age difference we were close. Lisa was kind of a blur in my childhood.

Then came Racheal's teenage years, and with them, her rebellion.

She started skipping classes, getting into fights, wearing black lipstick just to spite our mother.

But even then, she never pushed me away. We still had movie nights, late-night heart-to-hearts, and inside jokes no one else could understand.

Even after she went to college, we kept in touch. It wasn’t the same, but we still tried.

We drifted, slowly, like boats in a current we didn’t notice at first.

And when she told me she was going to the UK for her master’s I even considered transferring from NYU to the UK , just so we could still see from time being. But NYU was my dream college I wasn't going to just throw it down the drain.

Then I remember laughing and saying:

“Just promise me you won’t fall in love with London and leave me forever.”

She looked me in the eye and said:

“I promise.”

But she did.

Maybe not intentionally, but she stayed. She didn’t come back. And when the news broke—that she was arrested, tried, and sentenced overseas—something inside me twisted.

Maybe that’s why I felt so betrayed.

Because even before the prison sentence, Racheal had already left us.

Left me.

The air in the room felt thick.

Racheal finally broke the silence.

"I didn’t do it, Em."

"Racheal, don’t," I warned.

But she kept going.

“You know, while I was in the UK, some messed up things happened. But prison… as crazy as it sounds, that’s what actually set me free. I know you don’t get it, but I swear to you, Em, I didn’t commit any crime. I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

Her eyes sparked with something like defiance.“But I promise I’ll tell you and everyone else the full story when the time is right. I just… I need you to stop seeing me as a convict. I want you to see me as your sister.”

For a brief second, I saw past the rebel exterior.

Racheal wasn’t just rebellious—she cared.

I didn’t say anything at first.

We all knew Racheal had always been wild, so hearing her say she hadn’t done anything… it wasn’t fully believable. But the way she said it—it sounded

honest.

Maybe she was telling the truth.

Maybe she wasn’t.

I sighed before responding.

“I believe you, Rach,” I said softly.

Just what she wanted to hear.

Racheal’s face relaxed.

We sat in silence for what felt like hours, the fluorescent hospital lights humming overhead.

“I need to go talk to Mom,” I finally said.

I found her lying on a chair in Dad’s room—we’d gotten him a private room.

“Mom, I’m heading back home,” I said. I never liked hospitals. Even as a kid, I

hated being in them. I don’t know why—maybe I have hospital-phobia, if that’s even a thing.“Why? Don’t you want to wait until Dad wakes up?” Mom asked.

I wanted to. But again, I hated hospitals, and the house was a mess. Someone had to clean it—and I was pretty damn sure it wasn’t going to be Lisa . Maybe

Racheal could ,but definitely not Lisa.

“I need to get the house tidied up. I’ll see him at home,” I replied.

She stood to give me a hug.

“I love you, darling,” she said.

I hugged her back.

I do love my parents. I just hate how they tolerate Lisa and Rach.

“Love you too, Mom,” I said before letting go.

“Call me when you get home, okay?” she said, and I nodded.

As I left the hospital, I spotted Lisa standing at the entrance, staring into nothingness.

I rolled my eyes and kept walking past her—until she said something that made me stop.

“Em… can you, for once, try to be at least supportive?”

Supportive? Of who? Can someone cheer for a team that’s not even playing?

“I’ll try my best to get a job,” Lisa added.

I let out a bitter laugh.“What, Em?” she asked, making a face like I was the one being ridiculous. Rachael came out and joined us.

“You’ll try? And for the past two years, what were you doing? Trying to breathe?” I snapped. “Now that Dad has a heart condition, now you suddenly want to ‘try’?”

“Emily, what is wrong with you?” Rachael cut in sounding as if irritated.

“It’s fine, Rach,” Lisa said bitterly. “Let her keep being unfair just because life wasn’t a bitch to her.” That was it.

“Oh no. No, no, no. You don’t get to say that,” I said, stepping toward her, but Racheal held me back. “Emily, stop,” Rach said firmly.

“Fine,” I snapped. “Go and try to find a job. Or better yet, ask Mom to find one for you—since that’s what you’re best at. Mooching off them like you’re not a grown-ass woman.”

I stormed off, boiling with rage.