I reached out to hit her.
But Luke grabbed my wrist.
Then, I was pushed to the ground.
- 6.
“Rainey Lynn, you’ve been a brat for so long.”
“River won that award fair and square. Do you
have any proof that she stole from you?”
“I didn’t steal her designs.”
“She hates me, I didn’t even get close to her
computer.”
River started crying into Luke’s arms.
I looked at Mark.
My computer was in the study.
Only he went in there.
He didn’t look at me.
“Rainey, look at yourself,” Luke said.
He threw my jade bracelet on the ground.
“I can’t believe I liked you.”
I looked at him.
Then, I saw the necklace on River.
It was a tulip necklace.
“Mark Lynn, how could you give her Mom’s
L
I pointed at River.
Mark said, “Rainey…”
River took the necklace off.
“I didn’t know it was her mom’s. I’ll give it
back.”
She teared up.
Mark said, “Don’t take it off, this is from me.‘
He said to me, “The necklace doesn’t matter.”
“I’ll buy you a better one.”
“This was from Mom, Mark, you don’t get to
decide!”
L
“And I wouldn’t let this go to the step–sister!”
Mark said, “Rainey! Don’t treat River like
that.”
- 7.
“This is about Mom, not her!”
River started crying.
Luke said, “Rainey, stop!”
“River, we’ll buy you something better.”
He threw the necklace on the ground.
Mark sighed, “Rainey, why do you have to act
like this?”
“River is sad, how can you do this?”
“And about the design, you’ll get others.”
“But River needs this to get into design.
“So that she can be with Luke.”
He pulled me up.
“Get away,” I said.
“You’ll get what you deserve.”
Mark frowned.
“I’ll pay you back for it.”
He walked away.
I picked up the necklace, I stayed like that.
I didn’t cry.
People never cry when they’re really sad.
The sun was setting.
Everything was red.
The weather said, “Be careful with lights.”
- 8.
I burned the letters.
Luke and Mark were next to me.
They were smiling.
Now, I laughed.
く
I burned the photos.
My eyes were full of fire.
I read the letters.
Mark said: “I’ll always love and help you, I’ll let
you be a princess forever.”
Luke said: “I’ll marry you when I grow up, we’ll
have two kids, one of each.”
They promised.
They said I mattered.
The letters burned.
Like the promises.
く
It burned me.
I let go of it.
The fire grew.
Luke called.
I didn’t answer.
Mark called.
I hung up.
Luke messaged.
“River is your sister.”
“I hope you’ll say congrats to her, she needs
く
“I’ll buy you jewels tomorrow. Then don’t act
like this.”
Mark messaged.
“I’ll pay you back.”
“I’ll buy the necklace again, please forgive
me.”
I laughed and cried.
I messaged back.
To Luke: “I won’t congrats her, I want them to
die.”
To Mark: “Why don’t you go and tell Mom
that?”
I deleted them.
I looked at the house, then I left.
I didn’t cry.
I went out and the house burned down.
<
Chapter 2
- 9.
River, decked out in a designer gown, stood
backstage, about to accept her award.
Luke’s phone rang.
Annoyed, he reached for it, intending to shut
it off.
He saw a text pop up.
“Luke, call me ASAP. Something’s happened
to Rainey.”
Luke scoffed.
He thought back to the text Rainey had sent.
“What trick is she trying to pull now?”
River was about to go on stage.
He didn’t have time for Rainey’s drama.
She was just trying to ruin River’s moment.
His friend called.
He hung up.
River looked over, worried. “Is everything
okay?”
Luke squeezed her hand. “Relax. I’m here.”
They called River’s name.
Luke helped her with her dress.
L
Luke helped her with her dress.
The spotlight hit her.
She was the center of attention.
River took a breath, smiling.
Her phone rang again.
Luke answered.
His friend’s frantic voice filled his ear.
“Rainey’s gone. The house burned down last
night.”
“She was inside. They didn’t find her.”
“They think she’s dead.”
