Chapter 3

My skin was a mess of scars, not a single patch untouched, raw, layered, and horrifying.

Some came from surgical tools, others from saltwater infections, and many were the aftermath of brutal, inhumane experiments.

"What... What happened to you?" Savannah's voice trembled as she clutched my shoulders, her grip frantic.

Before I could respond, Nicholas' eyes welled up with tears, and his voice choked. "This is all my fault. If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have ended up here. I never meant for this to happen."

Grace wrapped her arms around him protectively, though her eyes flicked toward me, full of revulsion. "Don't blame yourself, Nicholas. He may be my biological son, but that doesn't excuse his cruelty. He's always had a mean streak to you."

Connor let out a heavy sigh. "Look at him now. Who knows. Maybe he brought this on himself."

My sister, Isabella Lawson, sneered from the side, "Please. He's clearly putting on a show to make us feel sorry for him. He brought everything that had happened before on himself.

"I really thought Sapphire Isle would change you, but look at you, same old act, same old drama. You're still trying to guilt-trip us. Haven't you made us worry enough already?

"You think showing up covered in scars is enough to make us forget everything you did? You're pathetic!"

A tidal wave of hunger crashed over me. Each wave was stronger than the last until it wiped out every other thought.

Nearby, someone reeled in a dead fish. The stench hit my nose and triggered something primal inside me.

I didn't care who was watching. I charged forward like a starving animal, grabbed the fish, and shoved it straight into my mouth, swallowing it whole.

The scales scratched my throat, and the raw stench filled my mouth, but I didn't stop. I just wanted to swallow it as fast as I could.

Nicholas turned pale. His eyes widened in horror as he clutched his stomach and doubled over, vomiting violently. His whole body trembled, his face twisted in pure disgust and fear.

Connor stormed up and kicked me in the ribs. He roared, "What was that? What the hell is wrong with you?! You've disgraced our entire family! You're nothing but an animal!"

Grace shrieked, pointing a shaking finger at me, "You're revolting, Maxwell! How could you become something like this? How did we give birth to something like you?!"

Savannah's face darkened with rage, her disappointment turning to fury.

She marched up to me, teeth clenched. "I thought you'd changed. I really believed you'd learned your lesson, but you're worse than ever. You think we'll ever let someone like you back into this family?!"

Tears welled in her eyes. "Don't think you can guilt us into forgiving you! How could you treat yourself like this, swallowing raw fish like some kind of lunatic? Are you trying to gross everyone out, or have you actually lost your mind?"

She panted, glaring at me like I was a monster, then pointed at the fish remains on the ground, her voice shaking. "Do you have any idea how many parasites live in that thing? Do you want to get even sicker just so we'll feel sorry for you? Or have you just given up completely?

"I am so done with this pathetic, self-destructive act of yours!"

Nicholas, still pale, crept closer, his voice soft and guilty. "Maxwell, please don't be mad at them... It's all my fault. If I hadn't been so immature and always competing with you, maybe you wouldn't have been sent to Sapphire Isle. Maybe you wouldn't be starving like this... It's all on me. I ruined you..."

Connor's face turned red again. "Nicholas, none of this is on you. You've always been kind and respectful. He's the one who's never appreciated a damn thing. This is his own doing."

Grace rushed to Nicholas' side and shielded him with her arms. "Exactly. Don't blame yourself, sweetie. We know you've always been a good boy. Not like him, who never learns a damn thing."

Isabella stormed up to me, her face twisted with disgust. She jabbed a finger in my face. "What's your deal? Playing the victim so people will hate Nicholas? You're petty and selfish. You can't stand to see him doing well, can you? You had a place in the Lawson family, but it was never enough. Now look at you, trying to milk sympathy from your own misery."

Savannah's eyes were ice-cold, her face expressionless as she stared at me. "You like playing the victim?" she said flatly. "Fine. I'll give you what you want."