Chapter 3

The glorified storage room.

One side was crammed with junk, the other held my old bed, a worn-out closet, and a desk and chair. That was it.

I saw Evelyn's red-rimmed eyes, but pretended not to notice as I started packing.

When she saw me stuffing my faded, worn-out jeans and jacket into a battered suitcase, she finally couldn't take it anymore.

She walked over, pulled the clothes from my hands, and threw them onto the narrow bed.

Her voice choked with emotion.

"Willow, no. Don't bother with these. Your mom will buy you new ones."

I looked up, confused.

"But they're not completely worn out yet. I can still wear them."

Evelyn's lips trembled, but she couldn't speak. She just hugged me, her tears soaking my shoulder.

When I changed out of my wet clothes, I was wearing a sports bra, and behind me, another choked sob.

"Willow, what happened?"

Evelyn pointed at the scars and burns on my back and arms.

Before I could even speak, the door opened. Arthur and Leo stood in the doorway, their eyes fixed on my wounds.

A heavy silence filled the air.

Frank, who had followed them, saw the commotion and pushed his way in.

He yelled, "What are you doing? Hurry up and pack so you can leave, then send us the money!"

Then he saw me, froze for a second, and his face twisted in anger.

"You stupid girl, what are you staring at? You did that to yourself!"

He lunged for me.

I flinched slightly, my voice barely a whisper.

"Yes, I... I did it by accident."

Leo stepped forward, pushed Frank out of the room, and growled, "If you want that money, you'd better calm down. My sister isn't someone you can scream at anymore!"

Arthur's eyes were also red-rimmed. "My Willow, you've suffered so much."

I shook my head, saying nothing.

On the ride home, I was still thinking about how smoothly things had progressed. At least with my biological parents' help, I could finally break free from that rotten family.

They mistook my thoughtful silence for shock, believing I was still reeling.

"Willow, we're so sorry. We shouldn't have brought you back there."

"We're so sorry. If only we'd found you sooner, you wouldn't have had to suffer so much."

"Willow, don't worry. I'll get revenge for you."

"From now on, with Mom and Dad, no one will ever hurt you again."

Seeing the blatant guilt and a surge of protective love in their reddened eyes, it was impossible not to feel a tiny flicker of emotion.

But it was only a tiny flicker. Revenge? I'd take that myself, later. And the 'suffering'? It was all in the past now.

The car stopped. Standing in front of the mansion, a place I'd only ever heard about in passing at other people's galas, I felt the extreme disparity of this world for the first time.

I lowered my gaze. I was starting to feel something, something thrilling. After all, I was now one of the heirs to this boundless wealth and power.

"Mr. and Mrs. Sterling are back!"

Mr. Davies, the butler, and several housekeepers emerged from the main estate to greet us.

He saw me, surrounded by my biological family, and hesitated, a question lingering in his eyes.

"This is Miss Willow, the second Miss Sterling. Take good care of her from now on."

Arthur said, ushering me inside.

The surrounding staff bowed, acknowledging his words.

As soon as we entered the grand hall, I looked up and saw a girl standing by the staircase.

The girl who had lived my life for eighteen years.