Chapter 2

Everything Mom said came out between sobs, but all it did was send my anger through the roof.

I couldn't hold it in anymore. "Yes, Uncle Jason helped us! But when Dad was alive, how much money did you funnel to their family? Dad worked himself to death for that money, and you handed it all over so Uncle Jason could buy a house and a car!

"And that time I was in the hospital with a fever, sure, he covered the bill. Then he turned around and told every relative we had that you, the widow, were dragging him down. And you felt so guilty you paid him back ten times what he spent!

"As for giving up that transfer? He didn't pass the evaluation because he wasn't good enough. But he came back and told you he'd sacrificed the opportunity for us, so you'd feel indebted to him for the rest of your life!"

I shouted all of it in one breath, tearing apart the lie that had been dressed up as family. Mom just stood there, stunned, staring at me like she didn't recognize me.

Tears were pouring down my face and I couldn't stop them. "Mom, if you think you owe him, then pay that debt yourself! Why do you have to drag me into it? Why does my future and my relationship have to be the price for what you think you owe a dead man?"

I turned on Drew.

"And you, Drew Calloway!" My hand was shaking as I pointed at him. "You only get a few days off a month, and every time you made up some excuse about being busy and couldn't see me. Did you think I didn't know? Mom told you to take Brynn out behind my back, and you did it!

"So what gives you the right to decide where I go to college?"

The room went dead silent.

Mom clutched her chest, her lips trembling, unable to get a single word out.

Something flickered behind Drew's eyes, guilt he couldn't quite hide. Then Brynn dropped to her knees in front of me with a heavy thud.

"I'm sorry! It's all my fault!"

She sobbed, then started slamming her forehead against the floor, over and over.

"I shouldn't have come here and been such a burden! I'll leave. You'll never have to see me again.

"Please stop fighting. Please… This is all because of me."

She collapsed forward, face down on the floor, crying so hard it sounded like her chest was going to split open.

"Brynn!" Drew lunged forward to pull her up, but she fought him off, clutching her chest.

She was coughing violently, her face drained of all color.

He snapped his head toward me, and whatever guilt had been there a moment ago was gone, replaced by pure rage. He crossed the distance between us in two strides and raised his hand high.

I lifted my chin and looked him straight in the eye. "Drew, if that hand comes down, we're done for good."

His hand froze in midair. Something in my expression held him there, like he'd seen something final in my eyes.

Then Brynn started coughing again behind him, harder this time, almost gagging. Whatever hesitation was left in his face disappeared.

"You're out of your mind!"

The words came out low and vicious, and the hand came down. It was harder and louder than my mother's slap.

The force of it sent me staggering sideways into the corner of the dining table. A sharp pain tore through my side, and the taste of copper flooded my mouth.

Brynn grabbed at his arm, crying, "Drew, I'm fine, please don't blame Lena."

He pulled her into his arms and his voice went soft. "You're too kind for your own good. After everything she just did to you, you're still defending her."

Mom glared at me with open hatred. "Lena, get on your knees and apologize to Brynn!"

I let out a bitter laugh. I took one last look at the three of them huddled together, the perfect little family.

Whatever was left inside me for any of them went out like a light. I got up, unsteady on my feet, and walked out of that suffocating house.

I went to the beach and sat there for a long time. Then I took out my phone and scrolled back to a message Drew had sent me six months ago.