Chapter 3

3.

"Silas! You're back! I really wanted to see your childhood home, so the girls brought me over. You don't mind, right?"

Jasper stood up and greeted me with a fake, sparkling smile.

Before I could respond, Quinn snapped at him for only mentioning Vivienne.

"Jasper, if you don't give me a hug right now, I'm going to be very offended."

Jasper laughed and played along, making a big show of being a gentleman.

I ignored the circus and walked straight into the kitchen to start cooking.

Quinn used to be so jealous of my attention.

If I spent five minutes longer talking to Vivienne, she would pout for hours.

I used to tease her for being a brat.

She would just grin and say she was only like that because it was me.

I thought I was special to them, but I realized I was just a placeholder until someone better came along.

While I was chopping vegetables, Jasper wandered into the kitchen, looking nervous.

"Silas, why are you being so quiet? Are you mad that I'm here without an invitation?"

"I didn't mean anything by it. I just wanted to see the environment you grew up in."

I didn't even look up from the cutting board. "You've seen it. Now leave."

Quinn stormed in immediately, her face darkening.

"Silas, what is your problem? Jasper is just being friendly! He wants to be your friend, you jerk!"

"Honestly, I should have kicked you out of our house years ago if I knew you were going to be this ungrateful."

Vivienne walked in behind her, looking equally disgusted.

"You're being pathetic, Silas. Apologize to Jasper right now."

I slammed the knife down and let out a cold laugh.

"You break into my house and demand an apology from me? Are you insane?"

Jasper's eyes welled up with tears on cue.

"Silas, I know you hate me, but please don't yell at the girls. It breaks my heart to see them sad."

The sisters immediately rushed to his side, cooing and comforting him like he was a wounded puppy.

Vivienne glared at me with pure hatred.

"What is wrong with you? No wonder people used to bully the hell out of you in school."

The words hit me like a physical blow, making my head spin.

In middle school, I was small and quiet, which made me an easy target for bullies.

Kids used to call me horrible names and treat me like trash.

Once, they locked me in the music room overnight.

I sat in the dark corner, shaking with terror until the sun came up.

It was Vivienne who braved a thunderstorm to find me.

She searched every single room in the school until she heard my sobbing.

The next day, Quinn hunted down the security footage and dragged the principal into it.

She made sure every single kid who touched me was suspended.

It's true what they say―the people who know you best know exactly where to twist the knife.

Vivienne saw my face pale and seemed to realize she went too far, but Jasper interrupted before she could apologize.

"Silas is clearly upset. Maybe I should just go."

Quinn immediately turned her attention back to him.

"Don't be sad, baby. I'll go home and make you that special honey-glazed pear dessert you like."

That was my favorite dessert.

Quinn had spent weeks in a cooking class just to master it for me.

Now, it was just a tool to comfort her new favorite toy.

I watched them leave, my resolve to move away hardening into steel.

But later that evening, the three of them pushed my door open again.

Vivienne was holding a takeout container with a smug look on her face.