- 3.
“I’m tired,” I said, shutting my eyes, not wanting.
to talk.
Soon, we were back at the mansion. The maids
seemed friendlier now. They all greeted me and
said, “Good morning, Miss Sutton.” I nodded
back politely.
Dad took me to my room. It was brand new,
spacious, and cozy. But the bed was covered in
toys, clearly used toys. Even if they were all
expensive brands, it was still off–putting.
Dad told me to rest before coming down for
lunch and then he left. After he was gone, I
<
grabbed all the dolls, opened my door and
tossed them into the hallway.
Jack walked past just as they were hitting the.
floor. “Lily, do you even have a heart? These
things were Sarah’s favorites. She wanted to
give them to you. And you just throw them
out?”
He glared at me like I was scum. I had chased.
out his little sister and turned their lives upside
down. I didn’t care what he thought.
Why would I want Sarah’s things? I smiled at
Jack and then called out to Mrs. Zhao, one of
the maids, “Could you please change my
bedsheets? They’re dirty.”
“Of course, Miss Sutton,” Mrs. Zhao said.
“What do you mean?” Jack was pissed.
I turned away from him and slammed my door.
<
At lunch, my mom rushed back. Her face was
full of guilt and confusion as she piled food on
my plate. I ate quietly and calmly. Dad looked
relieved and filled my bowl with soup. “Take
your time and eat, Lily. When you’re done, your
mom will take you to the mall to buy clothes.
We need to fill up that closet.”
My closet was huge, mostly empty. The Suttons
really were loaded.
Mom smiled and said, “Yes, I’ve been dying to
take Lily clothes shopping. She’ll look amazing
when she’s all dolled up.”
“That’s right, she is the image of you from
when you were young.” Dad was very
complimentary.
Jack slammed his silverware down and said,
“I’m done,” and walked out of the room. No one.
paid him any attention.
<
My parents continued to shower me with
affection until there was a loud crash on the
stairs. Jack staggered back into the room,
looking terrified and pale..
He said, “Mom, Dad, something happened to
Sarah.”
Jack held up his phone. The screen showed a
picture of Sarah with blood dripping down her
arm in a bathtub. And this text: “Mom, Dad,
Jack, I am not good enough. Goodbye.”
My mom dropped her bowl on the floor. She
tried to get up but looked at me and said.
apologetically, “Lily, I have to go check on her.
I’ll be right back.” Then she rushed off with
Jack.
I kept eating. I didn’t care that she left, and I
didn’t need her apology.
Dad reached out and put a piece of steak on
<
my plate. “Eat up, dear, you need some meat
on your bones.” His hand was shaking, and his voice was trembling, which gave him away.
I dropped the steak on the table, put down my fork and stood up. “I’m done, I’m going to sleep.” It was rude, but my dad didn’t get angry.
He chased after me, saying, “Don’t lie down
after you just ate. Wait a bit.”
I ignored him and spent the afternoon playing
video games, finally forcing Jay to give up.
Then I opened my phone to see a red dot on my
contacts.
Sarah had sent me a friend request? That was
interesting. I accepted and sent her a question
mark.
I got a tearful voice message. “I’m so sorry, Lily.
Please don’t hate me.”
“I love my mom and dad and Jack, I can’t live
<
without them. They can’t live without me.
Please don’t break up our family.”
I almost laughed. I was there to destroy this
family, and she was begging me to be kind.
“Stop acting. These words make me want to throw up.”
“Your parents are in Long Valley. You have a
younger brother who still wets the bed. You
also had an older sister, but she died. By the
way, I’m sure no one is washing your brother’s
sheets. You need to go back there; that family
can’t live without you.”
I sent the message. I bet Sarah was furious. No.
one valued the status of a wealthy heiress more
than she did. When someone once said Katie
was more elegant and looked like she was from
a rich family, Sarah had ruined her life so Katie
would never wear decent clothes again.
<
She would go nuts for sure now.
But it wasn’t enough. Not even close to the
pain she put Katie through.
Sarah sent a few pictures of my parents caring
for her, my mom washing her feet, my dad
pouring her water, and Jack peeling her an
apple.
“So, what if you are their real daughter? Do you
think your blood relation is more important than
our fifteen years of life together? I was
breastfed by my mom. Did you ever drink a
single drop?”
