Chapter 3

Two days later, my parents and the others came home.

They gathered in the front room, talking cheerfully. Theo was with them.

"Hill City is so grand, so beautiful. My head is still spinning from it.

"It's a shame two days weren't enough to see it all," Susanna said regretfully, turning a new bracelet around her wrist.

"Don't worry. I'll take you out again next time," Theo said, standing beside her and trying to comfort her.

My parents frowned as soon as they saw me emerge from my room.

"Clara, we've been away for days, worn to the bone, and you couldn't even be bothered to greet us. You didn't answer our messages either.

"Go get us something to eat and drink. Can't you see how tired we are?"

At my mother's cutting tone, I looked up at her.

"It's in the fridge right beside you."

"You could have said so."

She glared at me and got up to fetch it herself.

Susanna came over.

"Look."

First she held out her wrist to show me the bracelet. Then she spun around to flaunt her dress.

"Theo bought me all of it."

Theo chimed in beside her. "Well? Doesn't it fit her perfectly?

"Clara, if you want something too, I'll buy it for you next time."

I said nothing and looked at him.

He looked back and then said, "Clara, I tried contacting you, but you didn't answer, so I rented a spacious luxury apartment for you and Susanna. It costs a little over $6,000 a semester, and you'll be able to look after her there."

He paused.

"You just need to remember to cover the rent.

"Don't worry. I promise it's a nice place."

I said nothing and went on looking at him.

"I'm going back to my room."

"Clara!"

Theo's voice followed me. I ignored him and walked straight into my room.

He stared after me, stunned.

I used to sulk and get jealous over him. He loved watching me do it, then coaxing me out of it, because it made him feel important.

But today, everything was different.

That evening my parents decided to hold a party for the two of us getting into the Academy.

"Clara, this party is for you as much as it is for Susanna. Besides, you don't need all that scholarship money. Give me some of it for the party.

"You know what this family spent raising you. We need that money now."

Remembering that she had raised me all those years, I looked at the excitement in her eyes and finally gave her most of the scholarship.

Theo said brightly, "I knew Clara wasn't an ingrate. Now we finally have enough money for Susanna to live well."

"That's great! Theo, I want that necklace we saw last time."

Susanna was practically dancing.

The way all of them looked as though my money already belonged to them made me sick.

Once they had it, not one of them looked at me again.

Back in my room I looked at the few pieces of clothing in my case.

I picked up the photograph of Theo and me from the windowsill.

I opened the back of the frame and found a slip of paper tucked inside.

"When you graduate, let's get married."

His name was in the bottom right corner.

I had understood nothing back then. I fell deeper and deeper for Theo's sweet talk, and my greatest dream was to get into the Academy and see all of Hill City with him.

But I didn't need any of it now.

I tore the slip into pieces and pushed them back behind the photograph.

Only two more days.

Once I reached Moon City, everything would be quiet again. I didn't need their false affection.