Chapter 3
His voice went cold. “You stole, you deal with the consequences. How else are you gonna learn? You
want me to just stand there and watch you screw up? Let you slide straight into a life of crime?”
It felt like a hole had been punched through my chest. When had I ever stolen anything in my life? What reason would I possibly have to steal a watch from Nerina? Why couldn’t he just think about it for one
second? Why couldn’t he ever just believe me?
The tears came, carrying three years of despair and pain with them. I gave up on explaining. Again.
My brother looked at my buzzed head and softened, like he was the one conceding defeat.
“Emilia. Everything I do, I do for you. Yeah, you did three years. But I set everything up for you. The company’s yours when you’re ready. It was just a slap on the wrist, no real harm done. Now come home with
He grabbed my hand and pulled me back toward the house.
I followed. Numb. Silent.
When we walked in, Nerina’s eyes flickered with surprise. She hadn’t expected him to still want me back
after everything.
time.
I was just exhausted. Went straight Auto-added to the Library out.
Late that night, Nerina slipped into my room.
My eyes opened, alert, but she thought I was asleep.
She fumbled around, lifted my pillow, and shoved something underneath.
I didn’t move. Didn’t say a word.
She was in a hurry. Same trick, right after I got back. I wanted to see if my brother would believe me this
Next morning, sure enough, she ran to him crying. Said I’d stolen her watch again.
“Emilia, if you wanted it, you could’ve just said something. I tried to give it to you yesterday. You didn’t want it. What’s your deal? You just like stealing that much?”
My brother’s face darkened. He gritted his teeth, eyes locked on me. “You really can’t help yourself, can
you?”
My heart went thud and sank into an endless pit.
Chapter 3
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… —
His words were a blade. Slicing through whatever was left between us.
I laughed bitterly. “Yeah. Guess I can’t.”
Slap.
He hit me. Hard. Right across the face.
The rage and disappointment in his eyes were almost too much to look at. “How the hell did I end up
with a sister like you?”
I was quiet for a second. Then I covered my cheek and laughed again, cold this time. “I don’t know. How
did I end up with a brother like you?”
“You…”
His hand trembled as he pointed at me. He couldn’t even speak.
Before he could hit me again, I dropped to my knees. Right there at his feet.
“Thanks for dropping out of school to raise me. From now on, I don’t have a brother.”
I stood up, pulled Dad’s things out from under the bed, and headed for the door.
His face darkened. He snatched the photo and ring right out of my hands. “These are Dad’s. You don’t
get to take them.”
Fine.
I nodded. Resigned. Turned to leave.
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