Chapter 3

3

When Jason aggressively yanked my collar, I looked into his cold eyes and nodded firmly.

"I hear you."

I never intended to compete with Roxie anyway.

Besides, even if I tried, how could I ever win?

I was just an imposter. No one would ever stand on my side.

"Alright, stop it! You two are being way too harsh on Sadie," Roxie stepped in, linking her arm affectionately through mine.

"I'm not made of glass. Come on, Sadie, let's go inside and ignore these grumpy men."

Her tone was playfully spoiled.

Jason rubbed her hair with doting fondness, and Jared, who rarely smiled, let out a soft, genuine chuckle.

That was the perfect portrait of a family, straight out of a fairy tale.

"It's fine. I deserve this," I whispered, quietly pulling my arm away from Roxie's grasp.

She seemed oblivious, clinging back onto my sleeve the moment I let go.

"Sadie!"

Seeing Roxie look slightly hurt by my withdrawal, Jason shot me a vicious glare.

He dragged me into the private study without another word, with Jared following closely behind.

They sent Roxie away just to corner me and make sure I stayed in line.

This time, I didn't break down or yell like I did at the engagement party.

The excruciating pain in my chest had numbed into a hollow silence.

"Mr. Miller, Mr. Cole, you don't need to worry," I said with complete composure.

"I only came to gather my belongings. I have no intention of taking anything from Roxie."

I offered the humblest attitude I could muster, but Jason's eyes remained full of suspicion.

"Your old bedroom had the best sunlight in the house, so I moved Roxie in there," he stated coldly.

"Your bags were tossed into the downstairs guest room."

My chest tightened painfully, but I simply nodded. "Okay."

"The same goes for my place," Jared added mercilessly.

"Know your place from now on. Since you're back, go to the kitchen and make some soup. Roxie loves your cooking, and considering how she served you in the past, you won't refuse, will you?"

Cooking hearty homemade stews was the only domestic skill I had mastered in twenty-four years, and I had learned it solely for these two men.

Now, they wanted me to serve someone else.

In the past, I would have thrown a fit. But now, I just quietly agreed.

"Understood."

I numbly walked into the kitchen.

Keeping busy was a blessing; it distracted me from the heartbreak and exhaustion.

"Sadie, thank you so much for cooking for me!" Roxie soon bounced into the kitchen, beaming with gratitude.

"Don't worry about it," I replied without looking up, slicing the vegetables methodically.

"What are you making? Can I help?"

She hovered around like an eager puppy and reached out to grab the heavy pot lid on the stove.

The metal was scorching hot. Terrified, I shouted, "Don't touch that!"

Roxie was faster.

The moment her skin brushed the scalding metal, she shrieked and instinctively flung the lid away.

The boiling broth splashed violently across my body.

The heavy cast-iron lid slammed directly against my bare shins before crashing onto the floor.

A loud thud echoed, and I collapsed onto the floor in blinding agony.

"What happened?"

Jason was the first to rush into the kitchen, his face pale with panic.

In his rush toward Roxie, his heavy leather shoe stepped directly on my outstretched hand.

"Sadie! I warned you!" he snarled, glaring down at me. "Are you still throwing a spoiled brat tantrum? Don't forget your place!"

I tried to pull back my bruised, throbbing fingers, but Jared barged past, stepping firmly on the exact same spot.

"Sadie, where the hell are your manners?"

Three pairs of eyes glared at me with absolute contempt.

I blew on my burning, swollen hand and struggled to drag myself up from the floor.

"Jason, Jared, please don't blame Sadie!" Roxie sobbed, clutching her slightly reddened fingers.

"I wanted to help, but I didn't realize the lid was so hot. She didn't do it on purpose!"

People always said poor kids grew up faster.

Whenever Jason scolded me, he preached about how much Roxie had suffered in poverty.

Yet when an accident happened, they completely forgot that a girl raised in hardship would know how dangerous a hot stove was.