Chapter 4

Debra Cooper was my younger sister.

In truth, she was the family's biological daughter while I was the adopted one.

Her mother found me on a stormy night when I was twelve.

Everyone called it a coincidence, but I knew better.

To ensure Debra's mother would take in the pitiful orphan me, I purposely broke my leg.

I craved wealth, glory, and status, anything to never again feel that bone-deep shame of poverty.

Debra was brought back by the Cooper family at sixteen.

She'd always been kind, innocent, and pure.

Everything I fought tooth and nail for was handed to her on a silver platter.

So, I resented her.

Why should she skate through life without ever feeling the sting of the gutter?