Chapter 2

The broadcast cut to black immediately. That same night, they rushed me home from the hospital.

The second I walked through the door, Dad backhanded me so hard my ears rang. "Seraphina's your sister!" he screamed.

"You couldn't even behave in the mental hospital? You bribed someone to drug her and humiliate her on live TV!"

"How did I end up with such a twisted daughter?!"

I wiped the blood from my lip and let out a bitter laugh:

"You took my phone, and I'm on camera 24/7. No cash, no access—how the hell could I drug her?"

His red face went rigid.

Seraphina was sobbing nearby, looking like a wreck:

"You drugged me even when you were locked in the basement last time! A psych ward wouldn't stop you!"

"Avery, I barely survived. I just want to move on! Please, can't you leave me alone?"

"Now everyone's calling me a homewrecker..."

Mom pulled her close, voice breaking:

"Avery, how did you get so cruel? If you hadn't run off that day, Seraphina never would've been taken!"

"I've already talked to the Maxwells. Your engagement's going to Seraphina! We'll hold a press conference tomorrow to clear her name!"

Even though I'd given up on them long ago, my throat still tightened:

"What about me? You know the internet will destroy me if you do this!"

And I hadn't run off that day. Seraphina hated sharing Mom and Dad's attention, so she took me to the amusement park and ditched me!

The cops found me and brought me home. But she got kidnapped. None of this was my fault!

Dad's eyes bored into me, tone final:

"You've had it easy your whole life. Taking one fall for Seraphina won't kill you! Tomorrow, you'll admit you were jealous and set her up!"

I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

Seraphina, eyes puffy from crying, burrowed into Mom’s arms:

"Avery, if you just confess, I’ll forgive you. I swear I won’t steal your fiancé or cross any lines with him. If I do, may I never have children!"

Mom gasped and waved her hands frantically, tears spilling:

"Seraphina, you’re too good-hearted! Don’t make such a terrible promise! It doesn’t count!"

Dad’s jaw tightened when he saw Seraphina’s trembling. He barked at the bodyguards:

"Take her to the cold storage room and make her kneel all night! Maybe that’ll knock some sense into her!"

My knees hit the marble floor with a crack, and the cold seeped straight through my bones.

I laughed.

Never have children? Seraphina, did you forget you can’t lie anymore? I used my wish to make your oaths come true.

The next day at the press conference, cameras flashed as my sister gave a shy smile.

As Mom and Dad placed her hand in Damian Maxwell’s, Seraphina shot me a secret grin and mouthed:

"You’ll never beat me."

Then a bloodcurdling scream cut through the room.

A reporter pointed at Seraphina’s dress, horrified:

"Blood! There’s blood everywhere!"

The conference dissolved into chaos. Seraphina was rushed to the hospital.

She’d miscarried. After finally getting pregnant with Damian’s baby, she lost it.

Dr. Evans looked completely confused:

"This doesn’t make sense. Our tests show Ms. Seraphina was born infertile—she can’t get pregnant, let alone miscarry!"

Mom and Dad froze, faces going pale:

"That can’t be right! Seraphina was just..."

I looked down, smirking to myself.

Of course it was because she’d broken her promise—kissing Damian backstage before the conference.

Her vow to ‘never have children’ had come true.

Then a man’s voice boomed from the hallway:

"Infertile? That’s bull!"