Chapter 3

The words had barely left my mouth when Annie and the others got home.

Annie came in first, my parents and Marco behind her.

Behind them, bodyguards filed in loaded down with bags and boxes.

Annie showed off in front of William. "William, isn't this bag gorgeous? It's the newest release. Daddy bought it as my coming-of-age gift."

William nodded. "Everything looks good on you."

Lucia walked over and handed me a bag stamped FREE GIFT. "Annie got something, so you get something too."

"We've always been fair with you girls."

I gave a helpless smile and took it.

It was a promotional gift bag bearing the designer's logo.

"Thanks, Mom," I said evenly.

"See? Anna knows how to save money."

Antonio settled onto the couch, chuckling. "Annie likes to dress up, so she needs new clothes and bags. Anna makes things easy. She doesn't care about any of that, and clothes look the same on her no matter what she wears. Saves us money."

I stood there, staring at the words FREE GIFT on my bag, and said nothing.

Annie watched me, then suddenly tugged at Lucia's sleeve.

"Mom, you bought me so much today and nothing for Anna. What if she gets upset?"

Then, playing innocent, she held out a bag marked SALE. "Here, Anna, you can have this. You don't care about dressing up anyway, and these clothes are more than enough for you."

"Besides, Mom and Dad already gave me a credit card linked to their account. I can always buy more later."

At that, my parents' faces stiffened.

They exchanged a glance, then turned to me. "Anna, it takes time to get another card issued. Wait a little longer. We'll give you yours as soon as it's ready."

Antonio nodded along. "Don't worry. We've always been fair to you both."

I looked at them and said nothing.

Annie bit her lip, and her gaze suddenly landed on my wrist.

I was wearing a bracelet.

The silver chain had darkened with age, and a tiny star charm hung from it.

"Anna, if you're really upset... how about I trade you all these new clothes for that bracelet?"

It was the only thing my grandmother left me before she died.

The year I turned ten, my parents took Annie to Hawaii on vacation and left me alone at the estate.

That year, Grandma felt sorry that I'd been left without a single present, so she gave me the bracelet she had treasured for years.

She stroked my hair and said, "Grandma loves you, Anna. Annie doesn't have one of these. Only you do."

Whenever I felt I couldn't hold on any longer, I would touch the bracelet and remember her voice.

And I could feel that there was still one person in this world who loved me.

Lucia barely glanced at my wrist. "Anna, if Annie likes it, just give it to her. I'll buy you a new one later."

William chimed in too. "Exactly. It's rare for Annie to actually ask you for something. Anna, if you like jewelry, once the inheritance is settled, I'll buy you a designer diamond bracelet."

They took turns speaking, effortlessly making the decision for me.

They expected me to trade the most precious thing I owned for a promotional freebie and a pile of empty promises.

"Okay," I said.

I unclasped the bracelet and laid it in Annie's open palm.

She clutched it like a prize and smiled sweetly. "Thanks, Anna."

I turned around and locked my door behind me.

What they didn't know was that the bracelet wasn't the only thing I was letting go.

I was done with everything in that house that had ever been mine.

That very night, I listed all of it on a secondhand site.

I watched each item sell, one after another, and only then did I fall asleep, satisfied.