Chapter 2

"Then it's settled. Tomorrow morning, we hit the water!"

Lily's happy announcement pulled me back to the present.

They were laughing and chatting, already calling the club in the Hamptons.

No one noticed how quiet I was.

I got up and went to the walk-in closet to pack.

My mother was sorting clothes. When I came in, she handed me a box without even looking up.

"Put that Hermès shawl in the suitcase for me.

"And those vacation dresses that came today will fit Lily perfectly."

The suitcase was filled with Lily's sundresses, Ethan's sneakers... even Julian's sunglasses.

There was nothing of mine.

I opened a drawer and asked quietly, "Mom, did you grab my suit from the dry cleaner's on your way?"

I'd had the suit custom-made with my scholarship money, planning to wear it to court in London.

My mother stopped folding for a second.

"There wasn't room in the car for your suit, so I left it at the cleaners. You're going to the beach anyway. You won't need it. I'll pick it up next time."

Next time.

Always next time.

If Lily so much as mentioned needing jewelry to match a dress, my mother would have an entire case of jewelry delivered for her to choose from.

All I ever got was the same line. Next time.

"There's room in the trunk for Julian's sunglasses, but not for my suit?

"Mom, am I always going to come last with you?"

I couldn't stop myself from asking.

My mother's face darkened.

"Your sister isn't in good health. Of course we need to look out for her! Why do you always have to make everything a competition? When are you going to grow up?"

I didn't say anything else. I went back to my room, packed my passport, my visa, and my paperwork from the London firm, and locked them in my suitcase.

When I got up the next morning, the house was empty, and the cars were gone from the garage.

Julian texted me, "Lily wanted to get some fresh air early, so Ethan drove the others over first. I called you a car. Meet us at the helipad."

He didn't ask. He just told me.

In that house, I'd always been an outsider they could leave behind whenever they liked.

By the time I got to the helipad, the helicopter was going through its preflight checks.

Julian came over to take my suitcase, then looked me up and down and frowned.

"Why are you dressed like that? There's a cocktail party in the Hamptons, and you didn't even put on makeup."

I pulled away. "I'm fine like this."

Julian looked annoyed but quickly hid it, trying to coax me into a better mood. "Don't be upset. I'll take you out on a speedboat tomorrow, just the two of us."

I looked at him, and suddenly he felt like a stranger.

His betrayal was still fresh in my mind.

Yet he acted as if nothing had happened, tossing out promises he'd never keep.

I didn't answer. I just walked away.

When I climbed into the helicopter, my parents, Ethan, and Lily were already settled on the roomy seats in the back.

One happy family.

All that was left for me was the copilot's seat up front, where the engine noise was deafening.

Lily looked at me, a little flustered.

"You like to read your case files alone, Evelyn, so we didn't want our chatting to bother you. That's why we saved the front seat for you. You don't mind, do you?"

I thought about that email, and whatever patience I had left for Lily was gone.

For the first time, I didn't quietly accept her leftovers.

Keeping my voice calm, I asked Lily, "With all that engine noise, are you really worried about disturbing my reading, or are you worried I'll disturb your little family of four?"

The second I pushed back, my mother snapped, "Lily was only trying to be considerate! Why are you being so sarcastic?"

"Any seat will get you to the Hamptons," Ethan said, fastening his cuff links without looking up. "You like being alone, don't you? Saves everyone the awkwardness."

They were all watching me, guarded and cold. I didn't have it in me to argue, so I went up front.

After we took off, Julian texted me, "It's loud up front. When we land, I'll take you somewhere, just us. Don't be upset anymore."

I stared at the message. I wanted to delete it, but I couldn't make myself do it.

That was Julian. Every time he hurt me, he'd make another empty promise, and I'd find myself unable to walk away from our seven-year relationship.

Those sweet nothings kept pulling me back, even though I knew they were poison.

We landed.

Maybe Julian remembered his text, because he started toward me.

"Evelyn, your bags..."

"Julian!"

Lily called out weakly from behind him and caught hold of his arm.

"I'm so dizzy..."

Julian stopped in his tracks.

Without a second's hesitation, he turned and gathered Lily into his arms.

As if he'd already forgotten he'd just called my name, he carried Lily to a sports car.

"Lily's airsick. I'm taking her to a doctor. You can ride over in the luggage van."

Another promise gone before we'd even left the helipad.

I let out a bitter laugh. Then I deleted his text about slipping away together once we landed.

His empty promises belonged in the trash.

When I finally reached the estate in the luggage van, my father tossed me a key card without a second thought.

"Lily's been having trouble with her nerves. The suite in the main house has better air, so she gets it. You're staying in the guesthouse."

Ethan scoffed as he passed me. "Be glad you've got a room at all. Quit acting like you're the victim."

My mother was too busy ordering the butler to fill Lily's suite with fresh flowers and expensive scented candles to even look my way.

I took the key card and went straight to the guesthouse.

Soon, I'll be able to leave them behind for good.