Chapter 3

The research institute's car was due to arrive that evening.

That morning, I returned to school to collect my graduation documents.

As I was about to leave, several girls stopped me at the entrance.

"You're Audrey, right? Principal Bennett's precious daughter?"

The moment one of them spoke, the other two burst out laughing.

"What precious daughter? I heard Audrey got kicked out of her own home and is about to be sent off to some remote place in the mountains!"

I recognized the girl who had spoken first. She was Vera's closest friend at school.

She stared at me for a moment before suddenly grabbing my wrist and ripping off my bracelet.

"I heard this is your most treasured bracelet."

Dad had given it to me when I was fifteen. It was also the only gift he had given me in the five years since Vera came to live with us. I wore it every day.

"Give it back."

I tried to snatch it back, but the other two girls blocked my way.

The girl shot me a malicious look. Her voice was sharp and shrill.

"Who are you trying to impress with that attitude? Do you think being a Bennett and growing up with Liam means you can do whatever you want at school?"

"Everyone knows the principal kicked you out of his house. How pathetic! Your family and your childhood sweetheart don't care about you. They chose Vera!"

The three girls burst into laughter. Students who passed by turned to look at us curiously.

I spotted Liam beneath a tree in the distance. He looked in our direction, and Vera stood beside him.

The girls were speaking loudly enough for everyone nearby to hear. I knew Liam must have heard every insult they hurled at me.

Yet he did not come over. He could not even bring himself to say a single word in my defense.

Instead, Vera walked over to us on her own.

"Alisa, don't say that. Audrey must be really upset."

She spoke softly, as if she genuinely cared about my feelings.

If I had not seen the mockery in her eyes, I might have believed she was the kind and gentle girl everyone else thought she was.

"Come on, give Audrey's bracelet back."

She took the bracelet from Alisa and held it out to me.

I eyed her suspiciously and reached for it.

But just as I was about to take it, she suddenly pulled her hand away.

The thin silver bracelet snapped under the sudden strain and fell to the ground.

My face instantly changed. I hurriedly crouched down to pick it up.

Vera covered her mouth and gasped. Then, she backed away in alarm.

"Oh my God, Audrey! How could you do that? I was only trying to return your bracelet!"

Only then did Liam finally approach us.

He stepped in front of Vera and glared at me with disapproval.

"What in the world are you doing? Vera was only trying to help you, and you had to take your anger out on her? You even ruined your own bracelet just to get back at her?"

"Why do you always have to pick on her?"

I could hear the whispers around me, but I could not be bothered to explain myself.

Just like everyone else, Liam had already decided that Vera was the innocent one and I was the villain who always caused trouble.

But I no longer cared.

In just a few hours, I would leave that place and cut off all contact with them for good.

Liam's expression grew impatient.

"Vera's party is tonight. You'd better stop causing trouble."

I clenched the broken bracelet in my hand and walked away without looking back.

By 5 p.m., I had packed all my belongings. I was ready to leave my home of eighteen years.

Just as I was about to shut down my computer, someone suddenly barged into my room.

I turned around to find Liam storming toward me.

"Give Vera her necklace back!"

"What?"

Before I could even process what he had said, my parents and Ethan entered my room behind him.

Vera stood among them with a pitiful expression on her face.

"Vera's necklace went missing after she spoke to you this morning. You must have stolen it! Hand it over right now!"

I forced myself to stay calm as I looked at their hostile faces.

"I haven't done anything. What gives you the right to accuse me of stealing?"

"You refused to give Vera the necklace before. You must have taken it on purpose this time!" Ethan said firmly."

"Stop wasting time with her. The party is about to start."

At Liam's words, they began searching every corner of my bedroom.

Dad spotted the suitcase beside my bed and paused. His voice turned cold.

"What's this supposed to mean? Are you trying to threaten us by running away from home?"