Chapter 1

I was once the golden girl of the Chavez family. My father, a respected lawyer in Virginia horse country, adored me. My older brother, Andrew, was my protector. I was a champion equestrian, the pride of our well-to-do suburban life.

Everything changed on my 18th birthday.

That was the day my father brought Maria home from a group home. She was a "troubled teen" he'd taken pity on, and he decided to adopt her.

From that day on, I ceased to exist.

My father, who once praised my every achievement, now only saw Maria's supposed vulnerability.

My brother, Andrew, who used to defend me against everything, now championed her, looking at me with a disdain that cut deeper than any insult.

Even my high school sweetheart, Ethan, whose family lived next door, fell for her act. The boy who was once devoted to me became infatuated with Maria's fragile, manipulative persona.

They all chose her.

My father chose her over me. My brother chose her over me. The boy I loved chose her over me.

My only lifeline was my mother. She was a tech CEO in San Francisco, sharp and successful. She and my father had a bitter divorce years ago, and she' d been begging me to come live with her ever since. I always said no. I thought I could win my family back. I was wrong.

Today was my college graduation. A milestone. A day for family.

But my father, my brother, and Ethan weren't there.

They were at Maria' s regional theater performance. It was the 101st time they had chosen her over me.

I stood in the empty house, my diploma a useless piece of paper in my hand. When they finally came home, flushed with pride for Maria, I couldn't stay silent anymore.

"You missed my graduation," I said, my voice shaking.

My father didn't even look at me. He was too busy helping Maria off with her coat.

"Don't start, Jocelyn. Maria had a big day."

"I graduated from college. Doesn't that matter?"

Maria started to sniffle, her eyes welling up.

"I'm so sorry, Jocelyn. I told them they should go to yours. I told them my play wasn't important."

Andrew immediately put a protective arm around her.

"Don't listen to her, Maria. She's just jealous."

"Jealous?" I laughed, a broken sound. "She has everything that was ever mine. What's left to be jealous of?"

That was when my father turned. His face was a mask of fury.

He walked straight up to me, and his hand cracked across my face. The sting was sharp, but the shock was worse. He had never, ever laid a hand on me.

"You ungrateful, selfish child," he spat, his voice low and venomous. "After everything we've done for Maria, all you can do is think of yourself."

Tears streamed down my face, hot and silent. I looked at my brother, my protector, begging him with my eyes.

Andrew just stared back, his expression cold as ice.

"If you can't be happy for her, then get out."

Get out.

The words echoed in the sudden silence. That was it. The final straw. The end of any hope I had left.

I turned without another word, walked up to my room, and locked the door. My cheek was throbbing, but my heart was completely numb.

I pulled out my phone and dialed the one number that had always been my safety net.

My mother answered on the first ring.

"Jocelyn? Honey, what's wrong?"

I took a shaky breath, the dam inside me finally breaking.

"Mom," I sobbed. "I'm ready. I want to come home."