Chapter 3

3: 3

3

Jackson's face changed in an instant. He grabbed my hand and dragged me all the way downstairs.

Meryl was on the floor, foaming at the mouth, her whole body convulsing.

Jackson rushed over and pulled her into his arms.

"Meryl!"

The housekeeper cowered in the corner, not daring to make a sound.

Jackson lifted his head, his voice cold as ice.

"Before the ambulance gets here, I want to know exactly what happened."

The housekeeper spoke carefully.

"Miss Meryl said her sister was home, and she was happy about it, so she ate a little extra. But… there was mango in her food."

"We all know Miss Meryl is allergic to mango. No one ever buys it…"

Meryl lay in Jackson's arms, her face going gray.

She looked at me with effort, her voice weak.

"Sister… I was just happy you came back… if this is what it takes to make you feel better… then I'm glad to do it…"

I shook my head desperately.

"I didn't! It wasn't me!"

Meryl was taken to the hospital and had her stomach pumped through the night.

When she came back, Jackson came to my room, his face dark.

I trembled all over with fear.

Then he suddenly snatched up my mother's memorial plaque.

I screamed, panicked.

"No—"

He tightened his grip and slammed it hard against the floor.

The wooden plaque broke in two.

"The doctor said Meryl almost didn't make it. Sophia, you're as vicious as ever!"

He turned his head and gave orders to the men behind him.

"Take her up to the villa on the hill. No one lets her out without my permission."

I was sent to the hilltop villa.

No one had lived there in a long time. The dust was thick, but at least it was quiet.

The servants had been called away. In the whole villa, there was only me.

When I woke, there was a commotion outside.

I pushed open the door and saw Meryl standing there with a glass in her hand, smiling at me.

"Sister, I won't hold yesterday against you. Today is a welcome dinner for you. Go get changed and come out."

Jackson went around with Meryl, toasting everyone.

I stood in the corner, silent, saying nothing.

A few of the women who usually ran around with Meryl came over to me with glasses raised, looking me up and down.

"Well, if it isn't the eldest Pruitt daughter. Haven't seen you in half a year. What have you been so busy with?"

One of them covered her mouth and laughed.

"How about we play a game? If you win, we'll give you this. If you lose, you take off your clothes right here, in front of everyone."

I turned to leave.

But when the woman in front lifted the thing in her hand, I froze where I stood.

It was my mother's necklace.

The one she had fastened around my neck with her own hands before she died, the one that was stolen from me my first day in the brothel.

I thought it had been lost long ago.