Chapter 4Money Is The Only Loyal Love

Senior year arrived.

Sierra’s grades were a lost cause, so Alistair had already arranged for her to study abroad.

Naturally, I, with my equally poor grades, had no such luxury.

I had to remain in Avery Metropolitan, ready for the next bone marrow call.

Sierra had already flown to Switzerland when I took my college entrance exams.

Over the summer, her social media feed was full of the Swiss Alps, the Greek Islands, and spectacular skydiving videos.

Life is an open frontier, her captions declared.

A few weeks later, my scores came in.

I had completely over-performed, scoring high enough to get into one of the top public universities in Avery Metropolitan.

It was the first time Alistair had ever truly seen me as a daughter.

Before that, he didn’t even know what schools I’d applied to.

He actually called me to the main dining table for dinner.

At the table, he said he would grant me one wish.

Even Sylvie looked at me with an uncharacteristic flicker of warmth.

Seeing their expectant faces, I let the tears fall, one by one.

I told them I had only one wish: I hoped Remy would get well soon.

My sincerity wasn't questioned.

They both knew I visited Remy twice a week. The stack of handwritten prayers I copied for Remy in the solarium was thicker than anything Sierra, his biological sister, had ever done.

Alistair’s eyes misted over. He patted my shoulder. "It will happen, Rowan. I promise."

Sylvie’s expression was complex. After a long moment, she reached over and put a piece of tender sea bass on my plate.

I had earned my seat at the table.

I spent most of the summer vacation at the hospital, caring for Remy.

Remy was a quiet boy, and perhaps because I was his literal lifeline, he didn't resist my presence.

To an outsider, we looked like a genuinely devoted brother and sister.

Sylvie was almost always there, too.

She had grown used to my presence, occasionally even offering a word of genuine concern.

On the day my freshman year began, Alistair sent a driver and Mrs. Lewis to accompany me to campus.

Everyone in the household had noticed the shift in my status.

Everyone, that is, except Sierra, who was still abroad.