Chapter 3

The next evening was supposed to be a quiet family dinner before the wedding madness. Chloe was the center of attention, recounting exaggerated tales of her life as an aspiring influencer.

"And this director, he's, like, obsessed with me," she said, flipping her hair. "He says I have a 'transcendent quality'."

My parents hung on her every word. Liam laughed at all the right moments. Ethan watched her with an expression I had mistaken for brotherly affection for years.

I sat there, my swollen hands hidden in my lap, pushing food around my plate.

Suddenly, Chloe started coughing. A small, tight sound at first, then it grew more violent. Her face turned red. She clawed at her throat.

"I can't... breathe," she rasped.

My mother screamed. "Chloe! What's wrong?"

Chaos erupted. My father was on the phone with 911. Liam was trying to help her sit up.

Then my mother's eyes landed on the kitchen counter. On an open box of gourmet nut-filled chocolates. The ones I had been packing as wedding favors earlier that day.

"You," she shrieked, pointing a shaking finger at me. "You did this."

I stood up, confused. "What? No. I just left them there to finish packing later."

Chloe has a severe nut allergy. We all knew that.

"You left them out on purpose!" my mother screamed, her face contorted with rage. "You were jealous! You wanted to hurt her!"

"That's not true!" I said, my voice rising in panic. "I would never-"

Her hand cracked across my face.

The sound was sharp, final. The sting was nothing compared to the shock.

The paramedics arrived. They rushed Chloe to the hospital, my parents and Liam following in a frantic rush.

They left me alone in the house again. The half-eaten dinner, the overturned chair, the box of chocolates sitting innocently on the counter.

My cheek throbbed. I didn't cry. I just stood there, feeling the imprint of my mother's hand on my skin.

My phone rang. It was Ethan.

For a second, a foolish flicker of hope ignited in me. He was calling to check on me.

I was wrong.

"How could you be so careless?" he yelled, his voice raw with fury. "Are you that jealous of your own sister that you'd try to kill her?"

The hope died instantly, replaced by a cold, clear understanding.