Chapter 2

2

Finding my documents felt impossible. What was I going to do?

Just as I was about to panic, I noticed some paper airplanes on the coffee table.

A thought struck me. I walked toward them while keeping an eye on Milo.

When he saw me going for the paper airplanes, a flash of panic crossed his eyes.

I knew it. Those were my files.

I rushed over and grabbed the paper airplanes. I unfolded them carefully.

Thank God, the papers were not ruined. I let out a long breath of relief.

Then I glared at Milo. "If you ever rip my papers again, I will rip you apart!"

Milo flinched at the look in my eyes. Just then, my parents walked through the door.

Milo immediately burst into tears. He hugged my mom's leg and started crying about how mean I was.

Before I could even explain, my mom snapped at me. "Lydia! It is just a few pieces of paper! Do you have to scare your brother like that?"

I wanted to tell her what he did. But looking at her face, I realized it was useless.

I watched them fuss over Milo. I felt like a stranger in my own home.

But that was fine. Earlier, I had left my flash drive on the sofa.

I had quietly swapped it with my dad's and my mom's drives.

My dad's drive had the source code for a major project. My mom's had the designs for a huge clothing order.

I could not wait to see my idiot brother ruin their lives instead of mine.

The next day at lunch, I found a pile of chili powder in my bowl.

Milo was sitting across from me, making faces. I knew he did it because I have a severe allergy to peppers.

I put my chopsticks down. I told them I was going to order takeout instead.

My mom looked at me with annoyance. "I worked so hard on this food, and you're not eating? You are getting more spoiled every day!"

I pushed the bowl toward her. "It's covered in chili powder. You know I'm allergic. How am I supposed to eat this?"

She went quiet for a moment and looked at Milo. He didn't say a word.

Then she turned back to me and yelled, "Don't you use that tone with me! I should slap the attitude right out of you!"

I looked at her and felt nothing but pity. What kind of mother was she?

Milo saw that he wasn't in trouble. He started laughing at me behind her back.

He thought he was untouchable. Well, I wasn't the same girl from my past life.

I smiled, picked up the bowl, and dumped the whole thing on Milo's face.

My parents were stunned. A second later, Milo started screaming like a stuck pig.

My mom rushed to hold her precious son. My dad's face turned purple with rage.

I didn't wait for the blow. I turned around and bolted out the door to go treat myself to a nice dinner.

Milo deserved it. He asked for it.

I stayed out until I was sure my parents were asleep. When I got back, I went straight to my room.

I noticed my vanity had been messed with. My expensive skin cream was gone.

The bottle was completely empty. My favorite lipstick was snapped in half.

I had worked extra shifts at a diner all summer to save up for those. I hadn't even used them yet.

I checked the hidden camera I had set up. It was Milo.

The footage showed him sneaking into my room. He looked like a little demon.

He poured my cream all over the house plants. Then he stomped on my lipstick and laughed.

My blood boiled. I went to tell my mom about it.

She just gave me a bored look. "It is just makeup. Just stop wearing it if you're so upset."

I smiled. After she left the house, I went into the bathroom.

I grabbed all of my mom's expensive cosmetics and dumped them in Milo's lap.

I pretended to be furious. "Milo, I know you broke my stuff! You think you're so tough because Mom protects you?"

"Go ahead and break hers too! I bet you won't do it! Mom would actually kill you!"

Milo laughed in my face. "Kill me? You're crazy, Lydia!"

Then, right in front of me, he started smashing her designer perfumes and palettes.

He smirked at me. "Just wait. Mom won't even be mad at me. She doesn't care about your stuff, and she loves me too much to care about hers."

I watched him with a hidden smile. You little fool. Just wait until she sees the bill.