Chapter 3

Amanda stood in the doorway. Tears instantly streamed down her face. "Summer, I never meant to steal Ethan away."

Ethan immediately spun around. "Amanda, don't cry."

Amanda had just lifted a hand to wipe her tears when Deborah already stepped in front of her, shielding her. I hadn't done anything. She cried, and I became the one who made her cry.

Deborah wrapped an arm around her. "Summer, Amanda already feels terrible enough. Why do you have to push her like this?"

My dad didn't ask what happened. He just asked me, "Summer, what exactly do you want?"

The people who lied to me were them. Yet somehow, I was the one who'd done wrong.

But I didn't want to ask anymore. In this house, no one was going to give me answers anyway.

I turned and walked back to my room.

As I closed the door, Ethan called after me. "Summer, wait for me to come back. I'll explain everything properly."

I didn't look back. I didn't need explanations anymore.

The next morning, my dad knocked on my door. I was stuffing the last few books into my suitcase.

He looked at the suitcase and frowned. "What are you doing?"

"Early check-in."

"Early check-in?" My dad let out a scoff. "Had a meltdown yesterday, and now you're running away from home?"

"It's not running away. The school notified me."

"Don't use the school to pressure me." My dad walked in and nudged the edge of the suitcase with his foot. "Summer, you're the older sister. You should act like it. Amanda and Noah are both younger than you. What's the big deal about giving way for them a little?"

I looked up at him. "Amanda is only two months younger than me."

"So what? She grew up struggling with her mom. She's more sensitive than you."

"And me?"

"You've had me raising you since you were little. You've never lacked food or clothing. What do you have to complain about?"

I didn't say anything more. But my dad seemed provoked by my silence.

"Stop always putting on this victim act. Your mom passed away early. I raised you with my own two hands, and I gave you a whole family. What more could you possibly be unsatisfied with?"

"A whole family?" I finally spoke. "Dad, do you really feel like this place is my home?"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

My voice was very soft. "If this counts as a home, then I guess I really don't know how to be satisfied."

My dad raised his hand, about to strike me.

"Uncle Wilson." Ethan stepped between me and my dad. "If she wants to check in early, that's her choice. Don't push her."

In that instant, it was like seeing the Ethan from when we were little. The one who would stand in front of me and say no one was allowed to bully me.

But the next second, Amanda suddenly cried out from the living room. Deborah's panicked voice followed, "Amanda can't breathe! Her anxiety is acting up again!"

Ethan's face changed completely. He rushed out.