Chapter 3

His words hit me like a ton of bricks, leaving me dazed.

My parents instantly grinned from ear to ear. "R-really? We can go too?"

Mr. Sterling nodded, but a flicker of inexplicable disdain was hidden deep in his eyes.

Seeing this, my parents slapped their hands together and turned to me, smiling.

"Lily, now our whole family can go. You can rest easy now, right?"

Serena unconsciously let out a sigh of relief, a genuine smile on her face, and chimed in.

"So Lily was worried about this. You should have said something earlier! Taking care of Mom and Dad is my responsibility too; I would never abandon them."

But I couldn't smile. I only wished I had found a different excuse, I'd fallen right into their trap.

Serena started pulling my parents towards the car. I rushed forward to stop them.

"No, you can't go!"

Serena's smile froze on her face. She looked at me in surprise, a flicker of irritation crossing her face.

"Lily, didn't you say if Mom and Dad went, you would too?"

"Why are you disagreeing now? What else do you want?"

I ignored her, just grabbing my parents' hands and pulling them back.

"Don't go, and I won't go either. Can't we just stay in the slums?"

My parents stared, confused. "Lily, what is this? You just agreed to go if we went."

"We said yes. Now you're stopping us?"

Serena clasped her hands, tears glistening in her eyes as she approached me. Her voice trembled with hurt.

"If you don't want to go, fine. But why would you take this chance from Mom and Dad? Why are you being so selfish?"

"I only want what's best for all of us, and you've blocked me at every turn! Why?"

I gritted my teeth, fury burning in my chest. If my parents went alone, I'd never have a moment's peace.

This was Serena's new strategy. If I wouldn't go, she'd take my parents instead.

She had me completely cornered, certain that if my parents went, I would follow.

Her act of being so devoted to my well-being made me seem ungrateful in the eyes of the other relatives.

They stood by, arms crossed, loudly mocking me.

"Lily was just never meant for a good life. I say she should just find a man and get married."

"I know, right? If something like this happened to me, I'd say yes in a heartbeat. She's such an idiot."

"Serena, if she won't go, fine, just take us! We all want a good life!"

Serena ignored them, her eyes meeting mine, with a hint of scrutiny.

I quickly masked the fear in my eyes, not wanting her to notice anything amiss.

Mr. Davies yanked his hand from mine, gasping for breath as he angrily questioned me.

"Lily, what are you doing?! This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!"

Mrs. Davies' face was ashen. "Lily, my patience is wearing thin. You won't go, and you won't let us go. Are you crazy?!"

I was furious and desperate. The truth sat bitter and heavy on my tongue, but I couldn't force it out. All I could do was cry and repeat myself, a broken record of desperation.

"I don't want to go! And you can't go, either!"

"If we go... if we go there, it will-"

"It'll what?"

Serena cut in, her smile sharp and probing.

I flinched. The words shriveled in my throat. I turned my face away, sealing my lips in a tight, final line.

My mother raised her hand and slapped me hard across the face, then made her final decision.

"Alright, I've decided. Our whole family is going. Lily, stop messing around!"

The tension drained from Serena's face, and a relaxed smile appeared.