Chapter 3

3

After I was done crying, I took a cab home.

When I tried to open the door, I realized the passcode had been changed.

I tried Quentin's birthday. Incorrect.

I tried Sienna's birthday. Also incorrect.

Feeling frustrated and exhausted, I called Quentin. He took a long time to answer.

"What's the new passcode for the house?"

Quentin spoke coldly.

"You can't come in yet. This is a surprise for Sienna. Your brother and I redecorated the whole place for her."

For a second, I couldn't believe my ears.

What about my mom's diary? Was it gone?

I spoke frantically.

"I don't care how you decorate, but let me in so I can get my things!"

Quentin snapped at me.

"Why are you making such a fuss about your stuff? There's still a place for you here."

"Just wait by the door until we get back. I'll let you in then."

Before I could say anything else, he hung up.

My exhaustion was gone, replaced by a crushing anxiety. I sat by the door, waiting.

My mom was a researcher, so she was rarely home. We didn't even have a single photo together.

But before her last trip, she left a diary. It was filled with stories from her youth and her hopes for me and Jasper.

I used to read it like a storybook, then carefully put it back, waiting for her to come home and write more.

But she never came back.

She was taken, and my dad, a cop, went to save her. They both died in an explosion intended to kill anyone who came for her.

The police were worried the criminals would come after us, so we had to move overnight. The diary was the only thing I kept.

It was my only proof that they were ever part of my life.

At three-thirty in the morning, Jasper's car finally appeared.

Quentin got out and carefully carried a sleeping Sienna out of the passenger seat like a princess.

I stumbled to my feet, leaning against the door as I watched Jasper.

The moment he opened the door, I tried to rush in, but he blocked me.

"Let Sienna get inside first."

Quentin knelt down and gently shook her.

"Sienna, honey, we're home. Wake up."

I had never seen Quentin be so gentle. Sienna blinked her eyes open slowly.

"Are we here?"

Jasper immediately helped her up.

When the lights came on, I saw the house had been transformed into a pink, princess-themed nightmare.

I didn't wait. I bolted upstairs.

To my horror, the master bedroom was locked.

I screamed down the stairs.

"Where is the key to the master bedroom?"

They were still showing Sienna around. Quentin glanced up at me and then ignored me.

I ran back down and blocked their path, my voice cold.

"Give me the key to the master bedroom. Now."

Quentin scoffed.

"Can't you see we're busy? Why do you even want that key?"

Jasper joined in.

"The master bedroom is Sienna's room now. I moved your stuff to the guest room."

Their words hit me like physical blows. I was shaking with rage.

My head was spinning as I gave them a final warning.

"Jasper, if Mom's diary is gone, I will never forgive you."

I didn't wait for a response. I ran to the guest room.

It wasn't a guest room; it was a windowless storage closet. My clothes were piled up like trash, and my belongings were scattered on the floor.

I dropped to my knees, frantically digging through the mess, looking for the diary.

But it wasn't there.

The three of them followed me into the room.

Sienna walked over with a fake look of concern.

"Wren, let me help you clean up."

I shoved her hand away, and she went flying backward.

"Ah!"

Quentin immediately rushed to her side, shouting at me.

"She was just trying to help! Why did you have to be so violent?"

Jasper grabbed my wrist, trying to drag me out.

"Apologize now, or you're staying out of this room."

In the past, I would have obeyed. I would have begged them not to kick me out.

But right now, I only cared about the diary. I threw Jasper's hand off me.

"Fine. Give me the diary, and I'll leave right now. I won't even look back."

Jasper frowned.

"It's just a notebook. Why are you acting like this?"

I cut him off with a scream.

"It's the only thing Mom left behind! Did you really not see it?"

"It was right on my nightstand!"

Jasper's expression froze. Even Sienna, who was crying in Quentin's arms, stopped sobbing.

Quentin was the one who broke the silence.

"I remember now. When we were clearing the room, I threw a bunch of old stuff into the incinerator."

I stopped moving. I looked at him, my heart turning to ice.

"What gave you the right to burn my things?"

I walked over and slapped him as hard as I could, my eyes burning.

"You're a monster."

Quentin touched his cheek, looking shocked.

"Have you lost your mind?"

I stood up, my voice sounding dead.

"We're done. It's over."