Chapter 2

That night Willow returned, she whispered threats in my ear. “Alice, your good days are over. I’m going to take everything precious from you.”

My smile froze, and I stared blankly at Willow, wondering if I’d misheard. Because just moments ago, she had told Mom and Dad that all these years she was gone, I was the one she missed most.

“What? Scared? I’ve got even scarier things to show you, want to see?”

Before I could react, Willow grabbed my hand and slapped herself hard across the face. My palm went numb. Her lip was busted, her cheek swelled rapidly, and her mouth was full of blood.

I snatched my hand back in a panic, staring at her in disbelief. “Willow, what are you doing?”

The smile was gone from Willow’s face. She suddenly looked at me in terror, backing away as if she’d seen a ghost. “Sister, why did you hit me? All I wanted was to come back to Mom and Dad. Was I wrong? Why can’t you stand me?”

Willow’s voice was loud enough to alert the whole family. Dad came out of his study. Seeing Willow’s terrified look, he quickly shielded her behind him and asked me what was going on. Liam and Noah, my brothers, rushed out of their bedrooms. They grabbed my arms, roughly pulling me into a corner, creating distance between me and Willow. Mom, who was in the kitchen, stormed out with a wooden spoon in her hand.

Everyone watched Willow tremble as she hid in Dad’s arms. She looked at me with horror, as if I were a monster, continuously pleading, “Sister, I’m sorry, please don’t hit me, Sister, please don’t hit me.”

I was utterly speechless. I knew Willow had always been dishonest and loved to lie since she was little. But before, she’d only lie and make me the scapegoat when she got into trouble and was afraid of the consequences. This was more than just lying, though. She was clearly making trouble, intentionally framing me.

Sure enough, everyone fell for Willow’s performance. Mom’s chest heaved with anger. Without a word, she rushed over and slapped me across the face. The blow was so hard that half my face went numb. They stared at me, their faces etched with disappointment, as if I were a death row inmate. A flash of triumph flickered in Willow’s eyes. As expected, she had won again.

She tugged at Mom’s sleeve, putting on the most pitiful, vulnerable act. “Mommy, am I really unwanted? Did Alice really trick me into getting into the trafficker’s car all those years ago? She told me you had enough with just one daughter, and I was redundant…”

Willow was lying again. But her words successfully sent shockwaves through each of us.