Chapter 1

1

My folks, trying to knock some sense into me, faked a DNA test, claiming I wasn't their real daughter.

My brother, ignoring my pleas, was all too eager to shove me into a mental hospital.

"You're nothing but trouble, why don't you just drop dead?" he'd sneer.

And my fiancé, the guy I was head-over-heels for, just stood there, cold as ice, even pulling strings to make sure I suffered in that hellhole.

Five years.

Five years to learn my lesson.

Now, all of a sudden, they want the old, spoiled me back?

...

"Ashley, what's with the princess act again?

Being out this late, are you trying to make us all worry?"

That's my brother, Chad, his voice dripping with annoyance on the phone.

The Landrys finally let me out of the loony bin.

Because it's Brittany's birthday, and she's feeling generous enough to give me another chance.

Then Dad takes over the phone.

"I know you resent us for sending you away, but you were always so disobedient and mean to Brittany.

We did it for your own good!"

Chad chimes in, "Exactly, and we got you out now, right?

What more do you want?"

They keep nagging until, half an hour later, they're finally done lecturing and start asking where I am.

"Where are you right now?

We'll send a car to pick you up!

And behave this time, got it?"

I swallow hard, my throat rasping.

"The mental hospital."

Yeah.

I've been sitting here since dawn, not moving an inch.

Silence on the other end, then a louder, angrier voice.

"You're at the hospital and you can't get home yourself?

Do we have to come get you?

You know the way!"

"Who are you trying to fool with this act?

Still holding a grudge, huh?

I knew you hadn't learned your lesson, maybe we shouldn't have brought you home after all!"

They seem to have forgotten that they were the ones who told me to stay put.

"I'm...I'm sorry, Mr. Landry, Chad, I didn't mean to."

The apology is automatic.

Silence again.

Probably stunned by my compliance, or maybe by how I addressed them.

Five years ago, we were a family, close as could be, if it weren't for that damn DNA test, I never would have imagined that I, who looks eight parts like Mom and Dad, wasn't really their daughter.

"Whatever!"

He sounds defeated.

"I'll have your brother pick you up!"