Chapter 2

2

I sat on the floor until I could breathe again.

It was late by the time I finished cleaning up the mess they left behind. I went into Grandpa's room to pack his belongings, planning to bury some of his favorites with him.

But no matter how hard I looked, I couldn't find the silver bracelet he cherished―the one he gave to Grandma when they got engaged.

I remembered how Grandpa used to cry while holding it because he missed her so much.

A sense of dread began to pool in my stomach.

Someone had definitely been in this room.

Without hesitation, I called Caleb.

A woman's smug giggling answered the phone instead.

"I am so sorry, Lyra. Caleb is a bit busy right now. He's taking me shopping to cheer me up."

I took a deep breath and kept my voice steady.

"Since he's busy, put Tristan on."

"Oh, that won't work either. He is waiting in a long line to buy me that limited-edition designer plushie I wanted."

Tristan had zero patience and hated waiting in lines more than anything.

Whenever I wanted something that required a wait, he would just pay someone else to do it.

It turned out he only lacked patience for me.

There was nothing left to say, so I prepared to hang up.

Before I could, Misty started sobbing into the phone.

"Why are you yelling at me, Lyra? If you don't like the gift I picked for you, I can just change it."

I frowned, ready to snap back, but Caleb's voice cut in.

"Lyra, haven't you had enough?"

"We forgot your birthday, but Misty suggested buying you a ten-thousand-dollar LV bag as an apology. If you don't want it, then get lost!"

His words felt like a twisted echo of our first big fight.

I was in eighth grade then and had skipped class to buy a cake for Grandpa's birthday.

I knew he would be coming to pick me up after school, so I had to hurry.

My classmates promised to cover for me, but Misty went straight to the principal.

I was caught at the bakery and dragged back to school in shame.

When I confronted her, she cried and said she was only worried about my safety.

Caleb and Tristan slapped me in front of the entire class for making her cry.

No matter how I explained, they refused to listen, convinced I was just making excuses.

Looking back, they had probably chosen her over me long ago.

I pushed the memories away and suppressed my anger.

"I am not here to fight. I want to know where Grandpa's bracelet is."

"Oh, that old thing?"

Caleb's tone was dismissive.

"Misty liked it, so I gave it to her to play with. It accidentally broke yesterday before you got home."

"That was Grandma's engagement gift! How could you just give it away?"

I screamed into the phone, my heart breaking for Grandpa.

Caleb's voice grew colder and more annoyed.

"It's just a piece of junk. I'll buy him a better one later. He didn't even complain, so why are you acting crazy?"

I let out a hollow laugh.

"How could he complain? He is dead! He died because of you two!"

Tristan grabbed the phone and started shouting.

"Lyra, have you no soul? You are cursing our grandfather over a stupid bracelet?"

Misty's wailing grew louder in the background.

"I am so sorry! I am so sorry!"

"Lyra, I'll get on my knees right now. Just listen."

I heard a scuffle over the line.

It sounded like Misty was pretending to kneel while my brothers rushed to catch her.

"This isn't your fault. She just wants everything for herself."

"She has been a liar since she was a kid. Just wait until Grandpa hears about this; she is going to be in so much trouble."

The line went dead.

A moment later, a text popped up from Misty.

"Hehe. You have never been able to beat me, and you never will."

"If I were you, I'd pack my bags and disappear already."