Chapter 3

The person who had secretly filmed that video was my mother.

I remembered it clearly. That year, she had rented a room across from the school so she could look after my sister and me while we studied for our exams.

The camera angle matched the view from her window exactly.

I clutched the cold phone in my hand, walked out of the study, and called my mother.

The phone rang for a long time before she picked up. In the background, I could hear the clatter of cards being shuffled.

"Hello, Minnie. Why are you calling at this hour? Mom's busy right now."

"Mom, I need to ask you something." I kept my voice calm. "Senior year, when Winona knocked over my paint palette, did you film it from across the street?"

The sound of shuffling cards stopped.

A few seconds passed before my mother's self-righteous and utterly unbothered voice came through. "Yeah, I filmed it. So what? It's been years. You're still holding on to that?"

"Why did you film it? Who did you show it to?" I demanded.

My mother's voice rose. "I filmed it so you could take a good look at yourself, of course!

"Winnie's been sickly and sensitive since she was little. She's always wanted everything you have. That's nothing new.

"She didn't mean to do it, either. Didn't she cry and apologize to you afterward? You're her younger sister. Can't you just let it go for her sake?

"I recorded it because I wanted you to remember to give your sister some room in everything!

"You know, if that hadn't happened, why would Matt have felt so sorry for you? Why would he have chased you so hard afterward? When you think about it, you should really be thanking Winnie."

Every word out of my mother's mouth felt like a steel needle driven straight into my heart.

So, in their eyes, everything I had ever gotten was supposed to be split with Winona, half and half. It didn't matter that she had ruined my painting. What mattered was that my sister had cried, so she needed to be forgiven.

I had earned Matthew's sympathy because of what she had done, so I was supposed to be grateful to my sister for making it happen.

Matthew's twisted logic of protection and my mother's bone-deep favoritism, dressed up as advice, were cut from the exact same cloth.

Both of them flew the banner of "It's for your own good" as they sacrificed everything that belonged to me without a shred of guilt, all to fill the bottomless pit of Winona's wants.

I hung up, unable to say another word.

Just then, the doorbell rang.

I checked the peephole and saw Winona standing outside with a suitcase beside her. Tears streamed down her face in a display that looked almost rehearsed.

I opened the door. The moment she saw me, she threw herself at me and gripped my hands tightly.

"Minnie, I can't go on like this!" she sobbed. "Max... wants to break up with me! He said he can't stand me anymore. He said I'm too much trouble. He doesn't want me!"

I watched her clumsy performance. Beneath her red, tear-swollen eyes, I could see the smugness and calculation she couldn't quite hide.

My heart went cold. She hadn't come here for help. She had come to gloat and watch me squirm.

"Minnie, will you talk to Matty for me?" she gasped between sobs. "Get him to talk some sense into his brother. I can't live without Max. I really can't live without him! Please, Minnie. You're the only one who can help me!"

I reached out and gently patted her back.

"Don't cry. Come inside first." My voice was gentler than it had ever been.

I helped her into the living room, poured her a glass of water, and handed her a tissue to wipe her tears.

"Don't worry. Matt listens to me more than anyone. I'll get him to sort things out with his brother too." I settled her into the guest room and spoke softly. "Get some rest. Don't overthink things. I'll handle everything."

The moment I closed the guest room door, all gentleness vanished from my face.

I took out my phone and sent Matthew a message.

[Winona came to our place. She's crying her eyes out and says she's breaking up with your brother.]

The next second, Matthew called.

"Did she do anything to you? Don't be scared. Don't let her hurt you. I'm coming home right now. I'm ending this for good this time." His voice carried barely contained fury, along with a thread of panic he couldn't quite hide.