Chapter 2

2

Today was Grandma Mueller's 70th birthday, that's why he was dragging me back to the family home.

Jake scoffed, "Lucky you. Grandma muttered your name a few times while she was rambling."

I remained still in the car, no reaction at all.

My lack of affect seemed to tick him off, "When we get there, you better play nice. Or else..."

His tone was threatening, like a storm was brewing.

I tensed up, straightening my back like it was a reflex.

The warden would look like that right before she started the punishment.

"Tramp. Worthless piece of trash. You're so filthy, even touching you makes my skin crawl!"

The older woman would frown at me, strapping electrodes to my arms and legs. I was a fish on a slab.

When the current hit, I would twitch, then jerk violently, then go numb.

As I lost consciousness, she'd beat me with a thorny whip, the spikes digging deeper with each blow.

And I'd cry out. And she'd just laugh.

"You asked for this, you little slut. Keep your grubby paws off of what belongs to Miss Mueller!"

The only way I could get a break was to crawl like an animal on the floor.

I didn't dare disobey Jake. I raised my hands, promising, "I'll be good, I swear."

So, please, don't hit me, don't punish me...

"You're so compliant now," he said, with a twist of his mouth. "Don't look so miserable, you'll make me look like I'm abusing you."

I nodded, plastering on a fake smile that was all wrong.

Jake sighed, just about to say something, when a pretty woman threw her arms around his waist.

"Jake, you're late!"

Her voice was more of a whine than a complaint.

Jake stiffened for a second, then explained, "Traffic was a mess."

So he could be gentle. He was never anything but impatient and cold with me.

"Riley, are you done acting up? Stop making trouble!"

"Riley, you're so dramatic! Stop saying things that have nothing to do with anything!"

"Riley, you're so annoying. Can't you give me a break?"

No wonder the warden called me a clingy, shameless whore.

My head started to throb, and my hands and feet were burning.

The warden was right there in front of me, whipping me, ready to punish me.

"This girl was waiting all day for you, she's so excited you're finally here!"

A handsome guy stepped out of the house and teased them both, pulling me from my daze.

"When are you two gonna get married? Mindy has been waiting for you for years."

His gaze on Mindy was tender.

Mindy playfully swatted his arm, "Ben, stop."

She pretended to be annoyed, but her eyes on Jake were bright, full of longing.

Ben was my twin brother, but he acted more like Mindy's brother.

Even though Jake was my fiancé, he was actively trying to get Jake and Mindy together.

He spotted me behind Jake, and his face twisted with disgust, "Why did you bring her? She's bad luck!"

His look was daggers, like he wanted to destroy me.

"How dare she show her face here, after everything she's done?"

It reminded me of the day I was found and brought home.

Ben had looked at my dirty clothes, his face contorted in disgust, "Where did you find this street urchin? Get her out of here! She's filthy!"

Even after he found out I was his real sister, and Mindy was an imposter, it didn't change anything.

He would look at Mindy with tears in her eyes and he would pull her close, glaring at me, "Mindy will always be my sister, and no one can take her place!"

And Mindy, safe in his arms, would smirk at me, triumphant.

Like she did when she'd bullied me.

Her expensive shoes stomped on me as I was on the ground, the girl's expression vicious. "You're so worthless, you make me want to hurt you!"

Mindy's stare had been strange back then, a mixture of contempt, wariness, and jealousy.

When I met the Muellers, I understood why.

I had recognized Mindy as my childhood bully, so I tried to tell them everything.

Ben had been furious, convinced I was trying to get rid of Mindy, "You're so evil. You'll stop at nothing, huh? I swear, I only have one sister: Mindy!"

He gave me a cold glare. "Maybe if you weren't such a slut, people wouldn't come for you like this, huh?"

Textbook victim-blaming. For the me who yearned for family and love, it was a punch to the gut.

Even after he learned about Mindy's mom switching us at birth, he was just as biased, "It was Mindy's mother's fault, what does that have to do with Mindy?"

Now, he was stalking towards me, his voice cruel, "How dare you show your face here again?"

He said, "Why weren't you dead in that prison?"

His glare made me flinch. I immediately hunched over, covering my head, "I'm worthless, I'm a slut, I'm so sorry!"

I saw his face soften, his mouth opening, but no words came out.

Jake dragged me to my feet, "Will you stop it? Stop acting like this."

Acting? I felt a pang. Isn't that what you all wanted me to do?

Throw me into jail without a trial, ignore my pleas for help, leave me to rot.