Chapter 2

Something seemed to explode inside my head. I curled my lips into a bitter smile, mocking myself for ever getting my hopes up.

I had thought my brothers called me back because they remembered today was my birthday.

Even though I had already decided to leave, I had still held on to the desperate hope that they might explain themselves and that I could have one last happy birthday.

Instead, they just wanted to give Leah a complete family. They wanted to get rid of me, the burden, once and for all.

Six months of working odd jobs had left my hands covered in tiny cuts and scrapes.

My hands shook as I picked up the pen. The cuts on my fingers made my writing jagged and unsteady. A single tear fell onto my signature, smudging a small blot of ink.

I finished signing and looked up at Dominic through tear-filled eyes.

He turned away, avoiding my gaze. His voice was low and heavy. "Now that you've signed, you should go. Leah doesn't like you, and today is her birthday. Don't ruin it for her."

I closed my eyes and nodded.

The tiny spark of hope that had flickered to life moments ago died in an instant.

My heart went dead.

The butler escorted me out as if I were a guest, not family.

I stood outside the mansion gates for a long time. The sunlight stung my eyes and seared something deep in my chest.

Laughter drifted out from the mansion again. I wiped my face with the back of my hand and walked away.

It was my last day at my part-time job. I took the subway to the bar where I worked.

On the train, everyone around me seemed to be in pairs. I was the only one alone.

I swallowed the bitterness rising in my throat and scrolled through Instagram to distract myself.

The very first post was Leah's.

She was wearing a custom-made princess gown, with Dominic, Julian, and Darian gathered around her.

Her caption read: The unwanted one is finally gone. Now this family is complete.

Dominic and Darian had both liked the post.

In the comments, Julian had written, "Congratulations on your acceptance to Durand Academy of the Arts!"

My hand trembled.

Durand Academy was a private art school with tuition of at least a hundred thousand dollars a year.

It had once been my dream school, but Dominic and Julian had refused to let me apply because of the cost.

Dominic was a mafia don; Julian dealt arms internationally.

A hundred thousand dollars was pocket change to them, barely a minute's earnings. And the program I had wanted was the cheapest one Durand offered.

Back then, I told myself they just couldn't bear to see me go so far away.

Only now did I understand. It was never about the money. They just didn't think I was worth spending it on.

An adopted sister with no blood ties could never compare to their late mentor's daughter.

With that thought, I blocked every one of their numbers.

I didn't want a home that didn't love me. I didn't want a family that didn't love me.