Chapter 2

Preston slipped me an envelope of money. "Girls need to doll themselves up, buy pretty clothes."

I glanced at my faded, washed-out clothes. He'd already tucked the envelope into my pocket.

His hand lingered on my shoulder, slid down my back to my waist, then naturally pulled away.

It was his habitual touch.

I looked up. He was staring at me, his gaze crude and open.

Before I could dwell on it, Mom pulled me away to join the bride for dinner.

She held Jade's hand and mine, praising Jade and belittling me. "Your sister is the one supporting this family. You need to be filial to her in the future."

Jade was beautiful and charming, a real smooth talker, always knowing how to please Mom and Dad.

After she started dating a rich guy, she wore gold and silver, constantly buying things for Mom and Dad, making them love her even more.

Jade paid for my tuition.

Everything about me, she meticulously noted down. "Daisy, you'll have to pay me back when you grow up, okay?"

Everything we ate and used came from Jade's money.

Where did Jade's money come from?

I tore off a chicken leg and bit into it hungrily.

Dad, completely drunk, slurred, "Look how successful your sister is! You can't do worse than her, hear me?"

He rapped me on the head.

"I hate it when people hit my head." I stared straight at him, momentarily forgetting to breathe.

"Still talking back." He hit me harder.

It was time to go back to school. I'd specifically taken the day off to come for the wedding.

Mom stopped me outside. I shrewdly handed her the envelope of money.

"You're not allowed to take money from your brother-in-law in the future, understand? It makes our family look bad."

I nodded. The envelope had a thousand in it, but I'd already taken eight hundred.

"Where are you going?"

"To school. The exams are coming up soon."

Mom just mumbled "Oh."

The family used to care deeply about my studies, but now they took a hands-off approach. Their focus had shifted to Jade.

Or, to be precise, to Preston.

There were 73 days left until the exams. I touched the thick stack of test papers, my heart burning.

Ms. Albright, our homeroom teacher, with her neat short hair, lectured passionately from the podium.

Liam, my crush, was hunched over, taking notes, his bangs almost covering his eyes. I really wanted to brush them back.

He looked up, and I quickly averted my gaze, my face burning involuntarily.

My heart beat strongly, a feeling like I'd escaped death.

But I knew the real danger hadn't arrived yet.