Chapter 3

By the time I got home, dinner was already on the table.

Raymond was there too. Sitting right next to Sylvia.

The moment they spotted me, the laughter died. Every smile froze mid-air. The dining room that had been buzzing just seconds ago went dead quiet.

Kyle was the first to recover. He waved me over. "Lilith, come eat."

"Not hungry. Going upstairs." I turned to leave.

"Lilith," my mother called out, getting up and walking toward me. "There's something we need to talk about."

I stopped. "What?"

She came up to me, hesitated, then said, "Your father and I have discussed it. We've decided to finalize the bonding arrangement between your sister and Raymond."

I looked up at Raymond. He looked away.

A faint smirk crossed my lips.

My mother took my hand. "I know you and Raymond grew up together, sweetheart. But feelings aren't about who came first—it's about who's right for each other. I promise I'll make it up to you later..."

I gently pulled my hand back and cut her off. "I don't have a problem with it."

"Congratulations to you both."

I didn't expect Raymond to come after me.

He grabbed my wrist, hard enough that I couldn't pull free.

"Raymond, what are you doing?" My voice went cold.

He dropped his head slightly, softening his tone. "I know you said all that just to spite me."

"You must be hurting right now. Bonding with someone like that—who knows what it'll do to you."

Hurting?

No. Not really.

Maybe a little hollow. That was all.

There was a time I thought everyone might abandon me for Sylvia—except Raymond.

When I first came home six months ago, Sylvia loved playing the victim. Framing me, crying, the whole act. And no matter how much I explained, no one believed me. Except Raymond.

He'd hold my wrist, gentle and steady. "Lilith, I believe you."

"I'll always be on your side."

And because Sylvia was so busy copying me and trying to take my place, he kept his distance from her. Stayed cold.

I thought he was the one I could count on. The one who'd sworn since we were kids that he'd only bond with me. The one who never stopped looking for me when I vanished for three years.

But in the end, he turned his back on me too. Pointed the blade right at my chest.

He'd screamed at me once:

"Lilith, no wonder your own parents love a stranger more than you! Who could stand being around someone this prickly?"

"I can't even say two words to Sylvia without you grilling me like I've done something wrong! You're paranoid and exhausting—it's insane!"

"Fine. You want the truth? Sylvia is softer, sweeter, and worth ten of you. I'm in love with her. Happy now?"

Back then, I was drowning and he was the only thing I could hold onto. Even with words like that, my first instinct wasn't anger. It was guilt. I wondered if I really was the problem.

It took me a long time to see the truth. Raymond talked like he hated Sylvia, but he never actually pushed her away. Never drew a real line. He let her cross every boundary, step by step, until I was the one who looked crazy for caring.

He was the one in the wrong. Not me.

Seeing me go quiet, Raymond assumed he'd hit the mark.

He softened his voice again, dripping with that condescending kindness. "Lilith, we grew up together. We had something real once. I don't want us to end up as strangers who can't even look at each other."

"Tell you what—I'll talk to your parents. After Sylvia and I bond, I'll have them bring you into the Worth house too. I'll treat you the same. No favorites. You have my word."

I looked up at him, barely believing what I was hearing.

How could anyone be this shameless?

Raymond must've taken my shock for excitement, because he straightened his cuff with a little smirk.

"But you have to promise me something first. After we bond, you can't keep picking fights with Sylvia over every little thing like you used to—"

I couldn't take another second. I shoved him off me, hard, and the anger I'd been holding back finally broke loose:

"Get lost!"