Chapter 4

That thug Earl loitered until eleven at night. The bodyguards kicked him out.

David shoved him out the gates. Earl kept shouting back from the lawn.

"Mia baby. Pick up my call tonight!"

The heavy oak doors slammed shut. The whole mansion was shaking.

I lay in bed. Listening to the chaos downstairs.

David roaring. Sarah crying and playing peacemaker. Mia screaming hysterically.

Forty full minutes of madness. Then dead silence.

I thought the farce was over.

The next morning. I went downstairs for ice water.

Mia sat at the kitchen island. Eyes swollen like ripe walnuts.

She bit her lip upon seeing me. Silent.

I couldn't be bothered with her either.

Sarah walked over with oatmeal. Lovingly stroked Mia's hair.

"Stop crying sweetheart. He's just a lunatic. We'll have the lawyers file a Restraining Order today."

Mia stirred her oatmeal. Stopped abruptly.

"Mom. I think this is too weird."

Sarah frowned. "What's weird?"

Mia looked up. Shot a venomous glare at me. Just for one second.

Then instantly switched back to her pathetic look.

"Nothing." She said weakly. "I just think... it's too coincidental."

I stood by the fridge with my glass. Motionless.

A brainless housewife like Sarah didn't get it. Still cursing the thug.

But I heard her loud and clear.

Mia suspected me.

She had absolutely no proof. But her instincts were sharp. Always had been.

The most terrifying thing about this woman wasn't her tears. It was her extreme cunning.

She could smell the blood of anomaly inside flawless coincidences.

I needed to speed up my progress.

Daytime. I painted at the studio as usual.

Pushed open the door at night. The air was freezing cold.

Sarah sat in the center of the sofa. Expression dark.

David sat beside her with crossed arms. Suffocating presence.

Mia was absent.

"Chloe. Come sit." Sarah ordered.

I tossed my bag on the armchair. Sat down calmly.

"Mia told me something." Sarah paused. Sharp eyes. "She claims you hired that thug yesterday. Ruining her reputation on purpose."

I kept a straight face.

"She says you've been acting weird lately. Spying on her. Writing strange notes on your phone."

My heart tightened slightly.

The Notes app. I did make that encrypted spreadsheet. Even the password was random. How did she know?

She was spying on me.

"That's absurd." I said coldly.

"Then explain that man yesterday." Sarah's voice spiked. Piercing and sharp.

"That's Mia's own trash. Why pin it on me?"

"You're the older sister—"

"I'm the older sister. Her hooking up with a fifty-two-year-old thug is my responsibility?"

Sarah choked. Her face turned pale and green.

David spoke up with fake paternal authority.

"Chloe. Watch your tone with your mother. No one called it your fault. Just asking. Stop acting like a hedgehog."

I turned my head. Looked straight at David.

This man. My biological father. Lived in this house for fifteen years.

Every single word ever spoken to me dripped with condescending charity.

"That's not what your mother meant." "Put away your temper." "Yield to your sister. It affects our reputation in the community."

I slowly stood up.

"Is the trial over? I'm going back to my room."

"Stop right there!" Sarah shot up.

I stopped. Didn't even turn around.

"What kind of pills are you on lately?" Sarah raged. "Mia says you've turned into a monster. She says you look at her with pure malice."

"She says I've changed?" I finally turned around. Sneered at my biological mother.

"Mom. In fifteen years. Have you ever asked about my well-being? Asked about my true desires? Have you?!"

Sarah's lips parted. Averted her gaze out of guilt.

"You never did. For your precious charity reputation. To prove your perfection as adoptive parents. You gave her all the favoritism. Mia sheds a tear. You think the sky is falling. She makes up a lie. You interrogate me like a criminal."

"Fifteen years. Always this exact same ugly face."

The living room fell into dead silence.

David frowned. Embarrassed. Stayed quiet.

Sarah's face flushed red. Voice weakened.

"I wasn't putting you on trial. I just—"

"Enough." I cut her off mercilessly. "I've heard enough. Keep worshiping her like a treasure. Just don't mess with me."

I strode back to my room. Locked the door.

Sat on the edge of the bed. Pulled out my phone.

The protocol's black and white text glared at me.

"Wishes remaining today: 1."

Mia wanted to use this dirty trick. Use our parents' authority to crush me.

Exactly like age six.

She made a mistake. She cried. She tattled. Sarah whipped me without hesitation.

Years ago. I endured it. Chasing a shred of family warmth.

Today. I refuse to drain myself trying to prove anything to them.

I typed on the keyboard. "I wish to lose 10 pounds."

"Wish granted."

I tossed the phone aside. Turned off the lights. Went to sleep.

The double cost of 10 pounds. 20 pounds.

Mia worshipped her pristine Size 0 figure. A twenty-pound drop would kill her.

I'd love to see her stand straight and play the victim for Sarah now.