Chapter 2
Around midnight, Rowan came in with a new tube of pain cream.
Seeing the tear tracks on my face, he frowned.
“Crying again? Mia, can you stop with the pathetic act?”
I didn’t say anything, just stared at him coldly.
Rowan–you’re my REAL brother!
But you didn’t just destroy my body. Now you’ve trapped me in an even deeper hell with your lies.
My stare made him uncomfortable. His face darkened.
“What’re you staring at? What, I owe you something? If it wasn’t for me, you think you’d even have a place to crash right now?”
He threw the cream at me like he was doing charity work.
“There’s your meds. And quit bugging Mom and Dad over stupid shit like this–they’re already doing you a huge favor just letting you stick around.”
I grabbed the tube and hurled it at him.
“GET OUT!”
It hit his chest and dropped to the floor.
Rowan just stood there, shocked. He couldn’t figure out why his usually docile punching bag had suddenly grown some teeth.
He exploded, grabbing my shirt collar and yanking me off the floor.
‘What the hell is wrong with you, Mia! Who do you think you are? You’re a cripple! A burden nobody wants! What, still acting like some princess?”
The vicious look in his eyes was exactly like that night twelve years ago when he abandoned me and ran.
Terror grabbed me by the throat.
I started shaking–couldn’t stop shaking.
“Please… I’m sorry… I’m sorry…‘
T
Chapter 2
I begged like a beaten dog, tears and snot covering my face.
Seeing me grovel, the rage in his eyes faded, replaced by disgust and contempt.
He let go. I crashed back to the floor, my ankle screaming in pain.
“See? That wasn’t so hard.”
He looked down at me like I was trash.
“Face it, Mia–you’re damaged goods. But Sage? She’s different. She’s smart, she makes Mom and Dad happy, and they actually love HER. She’s the one who brings joy to this house.”
“Everything I do is for this family’s good. If you had half a brain, you’d stay in your lane and stop stirring up drama.”
He paused, then his voice got weirdly gentle, almost coaxing.
“I know you get lonely stuck in this room. How about I take you out tomorrow? We could go see the ocean. How’s
that sound?”
I froze, not believing what I’d heard.
The ocean?
I hadn’t left this house since the incident.
“We haven’t had a real talk in forever, just us.”
Rowan’s face actually looked guilty for once.
“Let me make it up to you, okay? Give me a chance to do right by you.”
He crouched down, picked up the cream, and carefully opened it to apply some to my leg.
That familiar gentleness used to be the warmest light in my childhood.
He once waited in line all night at a toy store to get me a limited edition doll.
He once carried me through snow to the hospital when I had a fever, trudging step by step.
But after that disaster, all of it became Sage’s exclusive privilege.
I stared at his familiar profile, feeling nauseous.
But I still nodded, clinging to some stupid hope.
Seeing me agree, something that looked like relief flashed in his eyes.
Chapter 2
The next day, he actually kept his promise. He carried me downstairs and put me in the car.
The car moved smoothly, the city rushing past the windows.
It had been over ten years since I felt sunlight or saw the colors of the outside world.
I actually felt this ridiculous little spark of excitement.
Until we stopped at some sketchy private clinic.
The place looked remote and definitely not like any legit medical facility.
Chapter 3
