Chapter 4

The night before I left, I went back to the Moretti estate.

I needed to retrieve the jewelry and photo albums my mother had left me.

The keypad code hadn't been changed.

But when I pushed open the bedroom door, I stood in the doorway for a long time without going in.

My room had become Chloe's walk-in closet.

The graduation photo on the wall was gone.

My trophies had been thrown into a cardboard box.

The bedspread my mother had sewn for me by hand was now under the shoe rack.

Chloe walked out of the bathroom in my silk pajamas.

When she saw me, she covered her mouth.

"Sis, why didn't you tell me you were coming?"

"This is my room."

She bit her lip.

"Ethan said your room was empty anyway."

"I had too many clothes, so he let me move in."

She added softly.

"You wouldn't begrudge me an empty room, would you?"

I walked to the vanity.

The bracelet my mother had left me was on Chloe's wrist.

"Take it off."

Ethan and Sebastian pushed the door open just then.

Ethan frowned.

"I told her to wear it."

"If Mom were alive, she'd treat Chloe as her own daughter."

"You already had all of Mom's love. Can't you share some of her things with Chloe?"

Sebastian was displeased too.

"It's just a bracelet. Do you have to make an issue out of it? Vivian, you're getting more and more selfish."

"Chloe will get married eventually. Until then, we should compensate her however we can."

I found it almost funny.

"So to compensate her, I have to give up my things too?"

I reached for the bracelet that belonged to me.

"Don't touch Chloe!"

Ethan grabbed my arm and shoved me.

My lower back hit the corner of the desk. The pain knocked the strength out of me.

Chloe cried and took the bracelet off.

"It's all my fault. Don't fight because of me."

"I'll give it back to her right now..."

As she finished speaking, her fingers loosened.

The bracelet fell to the floor and broke in two.

Chloe's face went pale.

"Sis, I'm sorry."

"I didn't mean to."

"If it makes you sad, hit me."

The more she pleaded, the more my brothers defended her.

"It's just a bracelet. What right does she have to be sad?"

"Worst case, we buy another one."

I didn't explain further.

But this wasn't just a bracelet.

It was the last thing in this house that belonged to me.

And now they'd destroyed that too.

I didn't look at them again. I picked up the broken bracelet.

I took the documents and albums my mother had left.

Then I turned and left.

Chloe chased after me and shoved an umbrella into my hand.

"Sis, it's raining outside."

She whispered, only loud enough for me to hear:

"See? They still love me more."

The next second, Ethan's voice came from behind her.

"You gave her the umbrella? What if you get rained on?"

"Don't worry about her. Let her cool off on her own."

As the door closed, I heard Sebastian sneer.

"Give her three days. She'll come crawling back to apologize."

The three men surrounded Chloe, fussing over her.

No one noticed I had left the Moretti house keys on the entryway table.

I never intended to come back.

At nine-thirty the next morning, Damian arrived at the signing hall.

Ethan and Sebastian were with him.

Chloe was wearing a custom white suit for the signing ceremony.

A diamond brooch Damian had bought her was pinned to her chest.

She looked around the empty signing hall and said timidly:

"Is Sis still mad at me?"

"Maybe I should hide first, and come out after she signs."

Damian put an arm around her shoulder.

"Why should you hide? We've spoiled her for too long. That's why she's this way."

"It's time she learned what respect means."

Ethan checked the time. His face darkened.

"Vivian's still not here?"

Sebastian sneered.

"Deliberately late, so we'll beg her."

The event coordinator rushed over.

"Mr. Damian, why are you here?"

Damian frowned.

"The signing is at ten. Did you forget?"

The coordinator looked stunned.

"But the signing was canceled two days ago."

Damian's face went dark.

"Who told you to cancel it?"

The coordinator pulled up the record.

"Ms. Vivian herself."

"And also—"

"Her flight took off at eight-forty this morning. To the European headquarters."

"By now, she's already left the country."