Chapter 2

Seven years earlier, my mother burst into my classroom in the middle of a lesson, grabbed my hair, and dragged me into the hall.

"You shameless little animal. You're barely a teenager, and you're already sleeping with girls? Have you been sleeping around this whole time?"

Every face in the classroom turned toward me.

My parents' adopted son, Elliot Hawthorne, remained at his desk with the corner of his mouth lifted.

Him again.

My eyes widened. Elliot had already told my parents that I was dating someone. No matter how I explained, they refused to listen and demanded that I promise never to go near a girl again.

"I didn't do anything. Elliot locked me in the school restroom, and I had to sleep there overnight..."

"You're still making excuses?" An oversized lace bra reeking of cheap perfume landed on my head.

"We found this in your room, and you still accuse your brother? Is this how I raised you?" Rage filled my mother's eyes.

"It isn't mine. He planted it. Go check the security cameras."

I screamed myself hoarse. I couldn't understand why the two people whose son I was refused to believe me.

My mother slapped me so hard that my ears rang.

Her eyes were bloodshot. "Are you that desperate for girls? Caleb Hawthorne, how can you be this disgusting? You have humiliated this entire family."

Students crowded every classroom doorway, corridor, and window, pointing and whispering.

In that moment, I wanted to die where I stood.

I ran from school with my face burning, telling myself that if my parents followed me, I would explain everything one more time.

They never came.

That night, when I finally forced myself to walk home, someone covered my mouth outside our gated community and dragged me into a vehicle.

After that, my world went dark for good.

I escaped again and again, and each attempt ended in another beating.

Whenever I lost consciousness from the pain, I told myself to survive a little longer.

My parents would find me. They would come and take me home.

Floating above Red Willow Hollow, I watched Elliot sit in the back of a luxury SUV, covering his nose with a look of disgust.

The gathered residents stared at him with envy.

"That's the Hawthornes' other son. I've never seen a real heir from a family like that."

"Everything he's wearing is designer. Did you see the world's most expensive watch on television last week? Mr. Hawthorne bought it for him. They worship that boy."

My throat tightened. I looked down at the filthy clothes whose smell could never be washed away, and I couldn't stop shaking.