The Wife Who Escaped Cruelty

My sister Lily wanted to swap her life with a dog just to get into Harvard. I tried to stop her, to talk sense into her, because who in their right mind would do something so insane? But instead, I found myself on a rooftop, my hands tied, Lily' s wild eyes screaming. "Jump, Sarah! Jump!" She pushed me, and as we plunged towards the city lights, my last thought was of the bitter irony – I tried to save her, and she killed us both. Then, I gasped, my eyes flying open. I was back in Lily's bedroom, the air thick with the scent of expensive perfume and desperation. She was standing there, holding that familiar, ugly flyer, saying the exact same words: "The college entrance exams are in three days. This is my only chance." My mother walked in, two glasses of juice in hand, and smiled at the flyer. "Oh, are you two finally discussing the plan?" They were a team, and I was the enemy, again. But this time, looking at their cruel and delusional faces, a cold calm settled over me. My kindness had been their weapon. This time, it would be different. "No, I' m not jealous," I said, my voice steady, eyes locked on Lily. "I think it' s a brilliant idea. I' ll even help you." Because this time, I knew the truth. I remembered the cold satisfaction on Ethan Blackwood' s face as we fell. He wanted this to happen. The dog, the ritual, all of it. And this time, I was going to let him have his show.