Chapter 3

I spent two weeks in that hospital. Every day I watched my wedding turn into someone else's.

The elegant venue I picked got swapped for Lily's princess pink fantasy. Balloons everywhere. Glitter everywhere.

Mom and Dad all dressed up, beaming while Lily tried on my veil for them.

Ryan posted ten videos a day. "My baby sis in her wedding dress. I'm not crying, you're crying."

People from school started texting me. "Hey Amber, is your sister getting married too? What's going on?"

I didn't answer any of them. I got in a cab and went home.

Ethan was in the kitchen making Lily a smoothie. The second he saw me, he stepped out and pulled the door shut behind him.

"Why are you here?"

"I need some of my things."

He relaxed. Lowered his voice. "Lily's still upset with you. Just stay at the hospital a few more days. I'm covering everything."

I didn't answer. I went to my room, packed a bag, grabbed my passport and my documents.

Then I reached into the back of my closet for the velvet box.

Empty.

My ears started ringing.

That locket was the only thing Nana ever left me. Sterling silver. Her photo inside.

I walked out to the living room. There it was. Around Lily's neck.

Dad didn't look up. "She found it a few days ago. Said it was pretty. Don't start."

Ryan grinned and ruffled Lily's hair. "Looks so pretty on you. Who's my favorite girl?"

Lily held it up, showing it off.

I walked over to her. My voice came out raw. "Give it back."

Lily screamed and buried herself in Mom's arms. "No! Mean Amber! No!"

She grabbed whatever she could reach off the table and threw it at me. A remote. A book. A glass.

Dad shoved me back. "It's a necklace! What is wrong with you?"

I couldn't feel any of it hitting me. All I felt was something ripping apart inside my chest.

"That's the only thing I have left of Nana. It's mine."

He paused. Then his jaw tightened. "Your grandmother is dead. You wanna destroy this family over a dead woman?"

"And she was Lily's grandmother too. You need to know your place."

I didn't listen. I reached for the chain around Lily's neck.

She screamed and jerked away. Fell hard. Her knee hit the floor and started bleeding.

The locket flew off and hit the tile.

The chain snapped. The glass over Nana's photo cracked right down the middle.

I dropped to my knees trying to pick up the pieces. My fingers came away red.

Then Ryan grabbed my collar and yanked me up.

The slap was so hard the whole room went quiet.

He grabbed my shirt. "Have you lost your mind?"

He kicked the broken pieces toward me and shoved me down onto them. "Get on your knees. Maybe this'll teach you."

Glass bit into my skin.

Ethan looked at me. Something flickered across his face. He shifted his weight.

Then Lily let out a whimper.

He looked away. Walked over to her. Put a jacket around her shoulders.