Chapter 3

Kelly's POV

When I opened my eyes the next morning, the house was empty.

My head was spinning, and my damaged leg felt strangely numb, as if I'd lost all sensation in it.

Then I smelled something burning, and it grew stronger. I looked toward the kitchen and saw thick smoke pouring out.

A familiar fear gripped me. I slid off the couch and dragged myself toward the front door, only to find it locked from the outside.

After calling 911, I kept desperately trying the doorknob while dialing Mom and Dad over and over. But every call was cut off the second it connected.

The last thing I heard before passing out from the smoke was the cold, automated voice saying that their phones were unreachable.

When I woke up in the hospital, the first thing I saw was Mom's worried face.

My eyes stung, and I called out hoarsely, "Mom."

But the worry drained from Mom's face right away. She glared at me with disgust. "Don't call me Mom. You actually set the house on fire? I don't have a daughter like you!"

Dad was comforting Amanda, who was still shaken. He cut in coldly, "The fire department determined that the fire started at the stove. Someone left it on. Kelly, you were the only one home. You've really gone too far this time."

My mind went blank. I instinctively looked at Amanda.

A guilty flicker crossed her eyes. She kept her head down and wouldn't meet my gaze. It had to be her. She must have been the one who used the stove and forgot to turn it off.

Before I could even defend myself, Mom lashed out, "Yes, I admit it. We took your sister to a ballet competition. She decided to start dancing again.

"We locked the door from outside because we were afraid you'd find out and come ruin it for her! Kelly, we've already favored you enough over the years. What more do you want?"

Her shouting made my head ring.

The other patients in the ward and their families all turned to look at me with strange expressions.

Mom continued, as if she needed to get everything off her chest. "It was the same back then. All three of you were home, and a fire broke out.

"Yet somehow, you weren't trapped in the fire and even managed to save Noah and Amanda. Kelly, how did I end up with a daughter as manipulative and calculating as you?"

My chest tightened so hard I could barely breathe. I stared at Mom. "Mom, is that really how you've seen me all these years?"

She just turned away and wiped her tears without answering. But her silence said everything.

All the things I wanted to say in my defense rushed to my throat, fighting to get out. But in the end, I swallowed them. It wasn't that I didn't want to explain. It was just useless.

I knew those weren't just angry words my parents had said in the heat of the moment. Deep down, they probably wished I hadn't survived that fire.

If I had died, they wouldn't have to bear the burden of me or show me any special favor.

I wanted to cry, but when my fingers brushed against the plane ticket in my pocket, the one for tomorrow, I forced the tears back.

I hadn't inhaled too much smoke, so I was discharged that evening.

But when I tried to get into the car to go home, Noah grabbed me by the arm and yanked me out. His eyes were bloodshot.

"Kelly, where is my money?"