Chapter 2

Paige went quiet.

Grant's face darkened.

"Audrey, don't push Paige into giving up what's rightfully hers just because you're my biological sister."

He was yelling, but I kept my eyes locked on Paige.

"I'm talking to you. What's wrong? Was that just something you said to sound nice?"

Her face went white for a few seconds, then quickly settled back into its usual gentle expression.

"Of course not. I'm happy to help you."

"It's just that you've never worked at the company. You don't know how complicated it is. Even if Dad agrees, the lawyers will need to review the trust documents. And being involved in a family business isn't as easy as it sounds. I'm just worried you won't be able to handle it."

The moment she spoke, my parents — silent until then — jumped in to explain.

The company had other family shareholders. The specific arrangements needed to be coordinated. I'd lived outside the family for so many years, I hadn't been groomed for any of this. They couldn't just hand such substantial assets over to me.

Excuses, every last one of them.

The company was privately held, and the other major shareholders were all relatives. If my father really wanted to, he could at least have the lawyers get started on it, instead of giving me a lecture on gratitude every time I brought it up.

Besides, what I wanted was financial security. I wasn't asking to walk into the boardroom tomorrow and start telling them how to run their hotels.

The four of them took turns explaining, as if denying me money was all for my own good.

Meanwhile, my phone buzzed again.

My boss had emailed to remind me that even though tomorrow was Saturday, the design proposal still had to be delivered on time.

My throat tightened. Every word of protest I'd been working up died in my throat.

Forget it. If this family and this job wanted to keep torturing me, let them. I was going to bed.

I ignored them and headed upstairs.

Back in my room, after a shower, the moment I lay down on the bed I finally felt like I was alive again.

Ever since I'd moved in, Paige had made a habit of walking into my room without knocking. I'd mentioned it twice. It didn't work. So I'd ended up putting a small camera on the bookshelf, aimed at the door and my desk.

As I walked in, I glanced at the indicator light to make sure it was still recording. Only then did I feel calm enough to pick up my phone.

Before I could get to anything mindless to scroll through, there was a knock at the door.

My mother's voice came from outside.

"Audrey, are you asleep? I warmed up a glass of milk for you. Drink it before bed."

"No, thank you."

A pause.

"I'm sorry. I forgot you said you couldn't eat celery. You used to love the soup I made when you were little. I always remembered that taste, and I just wanted you to remember it too."

Her voice was low, with a note of hurt in it.

The truth was, I did have a few memories of this family.

In the handful of blurry fragments I did have, my mother was holding me, patting my back gently, singing to me.

In the beginning, I didn't come back just for the money either.

But once I realized they were used to giving all their love and attention to Paige, I lost any desire to squeeze my way in.

Still, I softened. I got up and opened the door and took the milk and drank it.

Just as I was about to say goodnight, my mother picked up a second glass from the tray beside her.

"I can't drink any more."

"It's not for you."

She pressed the glass into my hand.

"Could you take this to Paige for me?"

She didn't notice how my body stiffened. She just kept going.

"What you said earlier really upset her. She was crying when she went back to her room. If you bring her the milk, it'll be a way of telling her you don't actually hate her. You're sisters, after all."

I looked at her, and the small warmth that had just started softening my chest cooled all over again.

A dozen cutting responses rose to my lips, and then faded into pure exhaustion.

"If I take it to her, you won't come knocking again tonight — right?"

My mother looked surprised, but she nodded.

I carried the milk down to Paige's room. When she opened the door, I held the glass straight out to her.

"Your mom sent it. She wants you to stop crying."

I waited until I was sure she had a firm grip on it before letting go.

But the next second, the glass dropped straight down.

Paige shrieked. The broken glass had sliced her bare foot.