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Chapter 4

Author: Michelle
The next morning, three black SUVs stopped outside my residence hall.

My family had taken the private jet back from the island.

Leon sent one message.

[Come downstairs.]

My parents, Damian, and Leon were waiting beneath the awning. Selena stood between them, wrapped in Leon’s jacket.

Mom approached me first. “What were you thinking?”

“I wanted to leave.”

“You disappeared without telling anyone,” she said. “Do you know how humiliating that was?”

Dad’s expression hardened. “Get your things. You’re coming home.”

“No.”

Everyone fell silent.

Damian stared at me. “We flew through the night to find you, and you’re still acting as if no one cares.”

“We came because you were behaving irrationally,” Mom said.

Selena clutched Leon’s jacket around herself.

“Please don’t fight because of me. I told them to stay on the island, but they were too worried about you.”

Her voice trembled, and Damian immediately touched her shoulder.

“This isn’t your fault.”

“I should have woken Viola myself,” she continued. “I didn’t know she would be so hurt.”

“You did nothing wrong,” Leon said.

He comforted her before looking at me.

I met his eyes. “Why was your encrypted phone in Selena’s bedroom?”

“I helped her repair the gallery’s security system and left it there.”

“I asked you to help with the security for my graduate exhibition. You said you were busy.”

“That was different. Selena’s gallery needed professional protection.”

“You always have time when she needs you.”

His expression tightened. “Is that what this is about? You’re jealous of your sister?”

“I’m tired of being forgotten.”

“You missed one sunrise, Viola.”

“It wasn’t only the sunrise.”

I looked at my family.

“You left me alone at my engagement party when her monitor came loose. Yesterday, all five of you left the villa without noticing I wasn’t with you.”

Selena’s eyes filled with tears. “I never asked them to choose me.”

“No. You only make sure they feel guilty if they don’t.”

Mom pulled her close. “That was cruel.”

“Was it?”

“She lost her father protecting this family,” Dad said. “We promised she would never feel unwanted in our home.”

“So you made sure I did instead.”

Mom flinched.

Damian shook his head. “You’ve resented her since the day she joined our family.”

“I gave her half my room. I shared everything I had because you told me she needed it more. But no matter how much I gave, it was never enough.”

Selena began to cry.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “Maybe I should leave the Moretti family. Then Viola can have everyone back.”

Damian immediately drew her against him.

“Stop that. You’re our sister, and no one is sending you anywhere.”

Leon turned to me. “Are you happy now?”

That was how Selena always won. She offered to disappear, knowing everyone would rush to prove how desperately they wanted her to stay.

I simply stopped competing.

“You should go back to the island,” I said.

“We came here for you,” Leon replied.

“You found me. I’m fine.”

“You’re obviously not fine. Come home, and we’ll discuss this privately.”

“I’m not going home.”

His patience finally broke.

“We have a wedding in six weeks. Both families already know you walked out on the trip. How much more damage are you planning to do?”

“I’m not going back today.”

“If you walk away now, I’ll postpone the wedding.”

“Do what you think is best.”

His expression changed. “What does that mean?”

“Exactly what I said.”

Dad stepped forward. “You have until six tonight to return to the Moretti estate and apologize to your sister. If you refuse, I’ll remove your access to every family account and property.”

“I understand.”

“You think you can survive without this family?”

“I’m going to find out.”

He stared at me before turning toward the SUVs.

Leon lingered after the others climbed inside.

“Take a few hours to calm down. Be at the Moretti estate by six if you still want this wedding.”

Then he left.

They believed I would return because I always had.

That afternoon, Nora helped me carry my luggage downstairs.

“When will you tell them?” she asked.

“After the plane takes off.”

She hugged me tightly.

“At Kane, let people see what you can do. Build something that belongs to you.”

I handed her the velvet box containing my engagement ring.

“Have this delivered to Leon after I leave.”

Nora accepted it. “You’re sure?”

“Yes.”

She smiled. “Then go choose yourself for once.”

At the airport, messages filled my phone.

Leon’s arrived last.

[This is your final chance. Be at the Moretti estate by six, and we can forget this happened.]

The gate agent announced boarding for Chicago.

I turned off my phone and handed her my passport.

At six, they would finally understand that I wasn’t coming back.

By then, I would already be gone.
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