Chapter 5

When I returned to the estate, the right side of my body was numb.

Terror crept into my soul.

I wanted to find someone, anyone, to scream to, but there was no one.

Before I knew it, I had walked back to the front gates of the mansion.

I let out a self-deprecating laugh.

Helpless children always run back to their parents.

Sienna Vance, they threw you away. Why are you back?

I clenched my fists, wanting to turn around, but my legs wouldn't move.

I hit my own thighs. "Go! This isn't your home anymore!"

Suddenly, loud laughter echoed from inside the villa.

Richard and Eleanor were surrounding Serena, watching her twirl in a brand-new designer dress.

I stood by the window like a ghost, a pathetic creature spying on someone else's happiness.

The weekend passed.

I locked my emotions deep inside, trying to focus entirely on studying for my AP exams.

But the principal called me into his office on Monday.

He slammed my report card at my feet.

"Sienna Vance, you were reported for cheating. The evidence is solid."

I picked up the paper.

My name was at the very top of the class ranking.

"Sir, my grades have always been straight A's. Why would I cheat?"

The principal sneered.

"Who's to say you didn't cheat before?

"According to school policy, cheating means immediate expulsion and a permanent stain on your record."

My brain went numb.

"Please, sir! Give me one day. I can prove my innocence!"

He didn't answer.

Desperate, I grabbed the paper and ran out of the office.

But as I rounded the corner, a foot tripped me. I fell flat on my face.

I looked up straight into Serena's mocking eyes.

In an instant, I understood.

"It was you—"

Serena snatched the paper from my hand and ripped it to shreds.

"Yeah, it was me.

"Get on your knees, crawl around your classroom, and bark like a dog. Do that, and maybe I'll tell the principal it was a mistake."

The wound on my palm opened up again, bleeding through the gauze. I broke out in a cold sweat from the pain.

Seeing this, Serena stepped directly on my injured hand.

She ground her heel down.

"An orphan with no parents only has her grades to cling to, right?

"Sienna, you better start barking before I change my mind."

Panic consumed me.

I was terrified of being expelled. I was terrified of being stuck working minimum-wage jobs forever.

Nothing else mattered. I got down on my knees, bowed to Serena, and crawled into my classroom, barking like a dog while her friends recorded it on Snapchat.

The laughter of my classmates roared in my ears, but I blocked it out.

With empty, hollow eyes, I walked back to Serena, who was giggling.

"I did what you asked."

Serena kept her word and led me back to the principal's office, but the moment she opened her mouth, she gasped.

"Principal, Sienna bullied me! She forced me to lie for her! Sob..."

My eyes widened.

The principal demanded to call my parents.

I muttered quietly, "I... I don't have parents."

Serena burst out laughing.

"Principal, she's just an unwanted stray!"

Soon, Richard and Eleanor arrived.

I kept my head down.

Serena immediately threw herself into Eleanor's arms.

"Eleanor, Richard, Sienna cheated, and then she threatened to beat me up if I didn't lie for her! Look!"

She pulled up her sleeve to show a faint red mark.

Eleanor's face flushed with fury. She slapped me across the face so hard my vision went blurry.

My cheek swelled up instantly.

"Sienna Vance, you absolute parasite!

"How dare you bully your sister at school? I think you should just drop out!"

The last string of sanity in my brain snapped.

"No! I can't drop out!"

I fell to my knees, begging Richard and Eleanor.

"Mr. Vance, Mrs. Vance, I beg you. Please."

Richard took a step back. Eleanor frowned, a flicker of pity crossing her eyes.

But as Serena tugged at Eleanor's sleeve, that pity vanished.

"You're dropping out."