Chapter 4

When I woke up again, I was in a hospital bed.

Finn was sitting beside me. When he saw me open my eyes, he immediately leaned closer, concern etched on his face.

"Blair, baby, you're finally awake! I've been worried sick."

When I didn't respond, his gaze flickered nervously. "I saw those photos, Blair. I'm so sorry. I was out drinking, got totally wasted, and someone must have grabbed my phone by mistake and posted them."

"Don't worry, I made sure they were all taken down. And don't give it another thought. I don't care about any of that."

I watched him, my heart a dead, empty space.

He was the real culprit, yet he was playing the savior.

If he hadn't relentlessly pursued me when I was at my most vulnerable, Finn and I would never have been together.

But before I could speak, his phone rang.

He murmured softly into the phone, then turned and walked out, not even sparing me a glance.

Finn had barely left when Asher walked in.

He looked at my miserable state, a sneer twisting his lips as he spoke.

"Guess where he's running off to? Chloe's back in town, and she's apparently having trouble sleeping. He's gone to comfort her, probably put her to bed. He's not going to protect you anymore, so don't get any ideas."

At his words, my body trembled uncontrollably.

Chloe Davis was their childhood friend, practically family, and Finn's first love.

Asher's mom used to say Chloe looked just like her, so Asher had always spoiled Chloe rotten, giving her whatever she wanted.

I cherished Asher, truly wanted him as my brother, and always tried to do right by him. But it never mattered. One word from Chloe and I was forgotten.

I closed my eyes, a self-mocking smile twisting my lips.

Only now did I truly see it: neither Finn nor Asher ever truly cared about me.

Normally, I'd be scrambling to apologize, trying to win him over.

But I just turned my head away, my voice flat. "Got it. It won't happen again."

Asher paused, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. "Finn's not here, Blair. Who are you trying to play pitiful for?"

He stormed out.

My injuries were severe, so I stayed in the hospital for a full week.

My mother heard about it, sent me some money for the hospital bill, then left on a business trip with Mr. Hayes. She never even came to see me.

I was alone even on the day I was discharged.

I took advantage of their absence to start packing.

There wasn't much to take, really. Most of the things I once held dear were just Asher's handouts, things he'd given me out of pity.

Now, they meant nothing.

The only thing that mattered was the bracelet my grandmother had left for me.

My grandmother raised me until she passed away; that's when I moved in with my mother.

My grandmother had personally placed the bracelet on my wrist before she died, wishing me a safe and smooth life.

But when I opened the box, the bracelet was gone. Vanished.

I searched the entire room but couldn't find it.

It wasn't until I checked the security footage that I saw Asher had taken it.

But he wouldn't answer my calls.

When I finally found him, he and Finn were in a private room, throwing a birthday party for Chloe.

Someone from the group chuckled, "Finn, you broke up with your smarty-pants girlfriend. Why don't you send her my way?"

Finn just glanced at him, saying nothing.

Asher, though, flicked his cigarette butt into an ashtray, his voice cuttingly cold. "Why ruin Chloe's birthday by talking about her? Don't even mention her name, it's a buzzkill."

My fists clenched.

The moment I pushed open the door, everyone inside fell silent.

I met Asher's chillingly indifferent gaze, and cut straight to the chase. "Give me my bracelet back."

Before he could open his mouth, Chloe lifted her wrist, a delicate bracelet glinting. "You're not talking about this, are you? Asher gave it to me..."

One glance, and my heart clenched. It was Grandma's bracelet.

"That bracelet is mine. It's incredibly important to me. Please give it back."

Asher scoffed, his voice like poison. "So what if it is? You live under my roof. Everything here belongs to me. I can take whatever I damn well please."

My nails dug into my palms, crescent moons blooming in my flesh, but I felt nothing, just a cold numbness.

"You can take anything else, but not this. That was my grandmother's..."

Just then, Finn cut me off.

"It's just a damn bracelet, Blair. I'll get you a new one, okay? Chloe loves this one, so let's just call it your birthday gift to her."