Chapter 2

I looked up at her, my voice barely above a whisper. "Paige… What if your sister isn't dead?"

Her expression faltered for a split second. She didn't answer, and I didn't push her.

That night, I tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep a wink. Suddenly, everything that hadn't made sense before clicked into place.

When Michelle died in the accident, I never even got to see her one last time. There wasn't even a single personal belonging of hers left behind.

I was only told that her car had exploded and there was nothing left of the body that could be identified. I'd collapsed the moment I heard the news, and I was in no state to ask more questions.

Later, when I wanted to go to Michelle's company, Paige stopped me. She claimed that the projects Michelle had been working on were classified and that even family members weren't allowed access to anything related to them.

My mom had told me the same thing. She said that Michelle was gone, and it would do no good to keep digging. Even her funeral had been held with an empty casket.

The next day, feeling completely hollow, I drifted over to the flower shop Jack used to frequent.

The owner recognized me and smiled. "You look so much like your brother." She added casually, "His wife was just in yesterday to order some flowers for him."

My heart stopped for a beat, but I forced myself to sound casual. "Do they come by often?"

"Not as much anymore. A few years ago, they used to have someone pick up the flowers for them. They ordered the most around the time their baby was born. His wife came by to pick them up a few times, too. She seemed like a sweet lady."

Dizziness washed over me when I heard that.

By the time I got home, Paige was already there. She had soup simmering on the stove, and my pills were laid out on the table. Everything looked completely normal and peaceful, as if nothing had happened.

Then her phone buzzed. She glanced down at the screen, picked it up, and headed toward the balcony.

I caught a glimpse of the caller ID—Jack Sloane. My breath hitched, and the last shred of hope I had was shattered.

While she was still on the phone, I slipped out the front door.

This time, I needed to see it for myself. I needed to see how Michelle had betrayed me and how Jack could live with himself after stealing my wife from me.

Using the address the flower shop owner had given me, I found the apartment building where they lived.

But when I got there, I saw my mom. She was carrying two large bags filled with baby supplies. The security guard even smiled and nodded as she walked past.

That was the final straw. Something inside me just broke.

I followed her up to the same floor. She stood outside the apartment and knocked like she'd done it countless times before.

The door opened almost immediately. Michelle was standing right there.

I froze. I couldn't even breathe.

She was wearing loungewear, holding a baby boy in her arms.

The boy's cheeks were flushed, like he'd just been crying. The moment he saw my mom, he reached for her and babbled excitedly.

"Grandma's here," Mom said, taking him into her arms.

A loud ringing filled my ears, and my whole body went stiff.

Mom immediately took the boy into her arms, soothing him as she asked, "Has his fever gone down?"

Michelle stepped aside to let her in and took the bags from her.

"No. Jack just woke up. He's inside." She said his name so naturally, as if there were nothing strange about any of this.

The door didn't close right away. Through the opening, I could see the living room. A small blanket was draped over the couch, a baby bottle sat on the coffee table, and building blocks were scattered across the floor.

It was a picture-perfect family, the kind of home I'd been dreaming of. Everyone else seemed to have a place in it, while I was kept entirely in the dark.

Jack walked out from the other room and took the boy from Mom's arms. He was wearing loungewear, his hair messy with sleep. Michelle reached up and gently tucked a stray lock of hair behind his ear.

I threw a hand out against the wall to keep myself from collapsing.

She used to do the same for me when I was cooking, and my hair fell into my face. In winter, whenever my scarf came loose, she'd lean in and fix it for me.

All the tenderness I'd thought was meant only for me now belonged to another man. And that man was my own brother.

Mom sat down, beaming as she talked about the food she'd brought and the new clothes she was going to buy him next time.

The maid came out of the kitchen and asked if she should heat up the soup.

Michelle went to get some water while Jack crouched down and talked to the boy.

They were a complete, happy family. I stood outside the door feeling like I was the only person who didn't belong.

Tears rolled down my face, but I didn't even bother to wipe them. I turned and started walking toward the elevator. Then my phone rang.

It was Paige.