Chapter 4

My threat didn't just panic Ryan—Mom's face twitched too.

Ryan grabbed my sleeve:

"No, Scarlett, you can't ruin me! Your mom manipulated me. If it weren't for you, I never would've gotten into this mess."

Mom looked away, guilty.

Daisy suddenly covered her face and started sobbing:

"It's all my fault. She hates me. I should just die so sister won't be mad."

With that, she ran out.

Mom and Ryan chased after her. Mom turned to slap me hard:

"Your father died saving Daisy! She is my daughter now."

"If anything happens to Daisy, I'll never forgive you!"

Before Ryan left, he squeezed my hand:

"Scarlett, you're the only one for me. I have to marry Daisy, but you know she's not all there. I'll always think of you as family—the mother of my child."

"You're the only woman I've ever loved."

After he left, I scrubbed my hands three times before I felt clean.

His touch made me feel filthy.

I went to the local shipping center to mail my university documents.

As I filled out the address form, I saw Mom and Ryan hugging Daisy, comforting her.

I couldn’t hear what they were saying, but Daisy was smiling happily.

She was pretty in her own way, with a childlike smile. No wonder they all doted on her.

Mr. Miller, the shipping center owner, flipped through my papers and smiled:

"Good for you, kiddo. Thought you'd given up on grad school."

I played it casual: "How'd you know about that, Mr. Miller?"

He slapped a shipping label on the envelope with a snap:

"Your boyfriend told me! Picked up your acceptance letter last year, said you weren't going 'cause you two were getting married. Didn't expect you to reapply. Not as good as last year's school, but still solid."

My whole body started shaking.

I'd slaved away for a whole year studying. Ryan knew how many all-nighters I pulled, how hard I worked.

So I had gotten in last year—he stole my letter?!

Mr. Miller noticed my pale face and his smile faded.

He leaned in, checking the coast was clear before lowering his voice:

"Kid, you need to watch your back."

"My wife was chatting with your mom the other day—heard she paid for Daisy's engagement party."

"Where'd she get the cash? Turns out she arranged your engagement to that housing rep's son from Oakwood Estates, took a down payment. She was gonna sell you off!"

I recoiled, ice running through my veins.

The sun was shining bright, but I felt cold to the bone.

The people I trusted most had betrayed me like this.

Mom said I could have any man I wanted, but the guy she tried to set me up with had two exes who filed restraining orders against him.

I grabbed Mr. Miller's arm:

"Please, don't tell anyone I'm going to grad school."

I needed to get out quietly and start over.