Chapter 4

"Quinn just needed my help. Why do you always think the worst of her?" Zack asked.

As I took in his impatient expression, I was suddenly reminded of an incident from a hiking trip during our sophomore year.

I hadn't been able to keep up with Zack because I walked a little slower than him. He'd ended up docking a point on the spot and blocking my number.

All the water and food that I had packed for the hike had been in Zack's backpack.

To avoid getting a heatstroke, I hid in a shaded cave until nightfall. I'd walked for about nine hours before I finally managed to trek my way out of the wilderness, completely exhausted by the time I made it back to the campsite.

Zack had been sitting by the bonfire, chatting and joking with the other students. He hadn't seemed concerned at all when he took in my haggard appearance. Instead, he'd just coldly asked if I had learned my lesson.

His icy words echoed in my ears, as if they had traveled four years into the future.

I stared at Zack, the man I had loved for the past four years. I watched as he trampled all over my pride without any hesitation for another woman.

I suddenly felt as if the tolerance that I'd shown him and the sacrifices that I'd made for the last four years were totally pointless.

I didn't want to cry in front of them. I didn't want to show them my vulnerability.

"I'm full," I said. "I'm going out to buy something."

I pushed my chair back and rose to my feet before I bolted toward the front door.

The chilly fall breeze felt like blades slicing against my skin.

I ran to the small garden nearby. I couldn't hold back the tears anymore. I crouched down and covered my face before crying silently.

A few seconds later, I heard the sounds of high heels clacking against the pavement from behind me. I looked up and came face-to-face with Quinn.

Quinn looked down her nose at me. The troubled and pitiful expression that she had been wearing at the dining table had disappeared.

"Feels bad to have nothing, huh, Violet?" she said, sneering.

I stood up and wiped my tears. "Why are you doing this to me? Mom and Dad showered you with affection your whole life. They gave you clothes and a home. You even have all their love. What more do you want?"

"What more do I want?" Quinn repeated in a shrill voice as her eyes glinted with resentment. "I'd be the true heiress of the Meville family if you hadn't come back. I would have had Mom and Dad's love all to myself. And I would be able to officially take over the family business.

"But you just had to come back! Your existence is a constant reminder that I'm nothing but a fake!"

She took a step toward me and gritted out, "I had a crush on Zack for the longest time, but he fell for you at first sight! What gives you the right? You're just a country bumpkin who grew up in the sticks! What gives you the right to live a better life than me?

"I hate you! I'm going to steal everything that belongs to you for myself, one step at a time!"

My heart felt completely hollow as I took in Quinn's face, which was contorted with jealousy.

"Take everything," I said. "I don't want them."

I turned around. I wanted to leave that suffocating place forever.

Just then, a car drove toward us.

Quinn's eyes flashed. She grabbed my arm before she toppled backward, using my own strength against me. She screamed as she fell toward the car.

The ear-piercing sounds of screeching brakes cut through the air. Quinn crashed to the ground, leaving a bloody gash on her pale arm as it scraped against the gravel.

"Quinn!" someone shouted in fear and fury.

Mom, Dad, and Zack ran out from the villa and sprinted toward us. When they got closer, they shoved me aside to gather around Quinn.

Mom hugged Quinn with a worried expression, fussing over her bloody arm.

"Are you alright, Quinn? Does it hurt?"

Dad turned to look at me, his eyes wide with fury.

"How dare you push Quinn, Violet?" he roared. "How could we have given birth to a despicable beast like you? As of today, the Meville family doesn't have a daughter like you! Get out of my sight!"

Zack carefully gathered Quinn into his arms before pinning me with an icy glare.

"I thought that you were just being stubborn, Violet. I never would have guessed that your heart was this rotten. If anything happens to Quinn, I'll hire the best lawyer in the city to lock you behind bars!"

I stood rooted to the spot, taking in the way the three of them were glaring at me as if I were their sworn enemy.

It was the first time I had seen such a fierce expression on Zack—all for the sake of protecting someone. Unfortunately, the person he was protecting wasn't me.

I didn't try to explain myself or argue with them. After all, I knew that the truth didn't matter when someone had already formed their own biases.

At that moment, after years of Mom's and Dad's neglect and Zack's cold treatment, my heart completely turned to ice.

None of them paid me any attention as they frantically brought Quinn to the car, wanting to drive her to the hospital.

Just then, my phone rang.

It was Professor Orson.

"The flight was rescheduled because of the weather, Violet," he said. "It's departing in three hours. Can you get to the airport right now?"

I looked at the three people I used to care for the most and calmly answered, "Yes. I'll be there as soon as possible."