Chapter 3 3

Adaline, her head covered in blood, tried desperately to explain: "Carter, it was... her! She told them... at the center... to beat me! They broke... my leg! Pulled out my nails!"

He sneered. "Oh? I thought you said you got sick and they rotted. Adaline, how many more lies are you going to tell?" She choked, unable to speak.

Mrs. Singleton helped her daughter up, her eyes full of concern. "Elois, are you all right? Does it hurt?"

When she saw the finger marks on Elois's neck, her face flushed with anger. "Adaline! How could you do this to Elois? She's always thinking of you, caring about you. She even went to the center to bring you food--and this is how you repay her?"

Visit? Bring food? Adaline suddenly remembered the monthly electric shock punishments. Her voice trembled. "Every month... on the seventh?"

Mr. Singleton looked at her with disappointment. "Adaline, you know Elois visits you every seventh. She cares about you, looks out for you. And this is how you treat her? We should have let you go to prison back then. Atone for your crimes."

Four years ago, she had been accused of hit-and-run, nearly facing jail time. The family had paid a large settlement to get a letter of forgiveness. But she hadn't done it. The "evidence" was fabricated. No one believed her. Then Elois had said, "Sister has gone bad. Maybe a rehabilitation center will help her become a better person."

And Adaline was locked up four years.

"Dad... Dad! She's not... kind! She didn't come to... visit me! She came to... punish me! She--"

"Enough! I'm not your father. I don't have a daughter with a venomous heart like yours. We never should have let you out. Driver, take her back."

Adaline looked at her adoptive parents, who refused to believe her, and the light slowly faded from her eyes. How had she forgotten? She was no longer the beloved eldest daughter of the Singleton family.

She turned stiffly to Carter and forced out the words, "What... do I have to do... to not go back?"

The entire Singleton family depended on the Holders. Carter's word was law. His gaze was icy, his voice low and sharp. "Apologize to Elois."

She looked at Elois, who was leaning tearfully against Mrs. Singleton, her eyes red. Apologize? But what had she done wrong? She hadn't chosen to be switched. She hadn't done those things. She hadn't planned to climb into his bed...

One by one, every accusation crushed her. She had fought, she had pleaded, but no one believed her. It didn't matter anymore.

Slowly, she knelt in front of Elois, murmuring, "I was... wrong. I'm sorry."

Thud. Her forehead hit the floor hard.

"I was wrong."

Thud.

An apology, a kowtow. She ground her last shred of dignity into the dust. Soon, bloody prints marked the floor.

Elois's eyes glittered with satisfaction, but when she saw Mrs. Singleton's expression soften slightly, she quickly helped Adaline up. "Sister, I don't blame you. Get up. I know you didn't mean it. I forgive you."

Mr. Singleton looked pleased. "Elois is so kind-hearted. Even after all this, she still cares about her sister."

Adaline no longer resisted or denied. Darkness pulsed at the edges of her vision, and she could barely stand. But pain shot through her arm--Elois's sharp nails digging into her flesh like knives. "Sister, let's get along from now on."