Chapter 1Third Return And I Am Done

This was the third time I’d been "welcomed" back into the Mercer empire, and frankly, I was over it. The fire in my gut had burned out, replaced by a cold, practical numbness.

When Brianna "tripped" and tumbled down the grand marble staircase, I didn't wait for the inevitable trial. Before the echoes of her staged sob could even fade, I stepped forward and held out my metaphorical wrists.

"I did it. I pushed her. Go ahead, ground me, send me away—whatever makes you feel better."

The silence that followed was thick with the family’s collective disappointment. I heard the familiar whispers: If only Brianna were the one related to us by blood. I didn't flinch. I just turned on my heel and walked away.

I was done fighting. I was done screaming into the void of their favoritism. But the strange thing about the Mercers was that as soon as I stopped caring, they started acting like I was the one hurting them.

"Why are you acting like a stranger in your own home?" my mother asked, her eyes rimmed with theatrical red.

My oldest brother, Harrison, tightened his jaw, his brow furrowed in that classic 'stern CEO' look. "Is this some new tactic to make us feel guilty, Madeline?"

Then there was Tyler, the brother who hated me most. He let out a sharp, jagged laugh. "What’s the angle this time, Maddie? What are you plotting?"

I wasn't plotting anything.

In the six months since they’d "found" me, I’d been kicked out twice. I’d tasted the bitterness of the gutter and the exhaustion of back-breaking labor. I’d learned my lesson.

Why beg for scraps of love from people who didn't have any to give?

Instead, I was going to squeeze this lifestyle for every drop it was worth. The elite education, the high-end tutors, the networking. As for the "Mercer family love"?

It wasn't even worth the price of the air they used to talk about it.

* * *

This was the third time I’d moved back into the Mercer estate.

I had officially entered my "I don’t give a damn" era.

When Brianna fell, I intercepted the accusations before they could even leave their mouths. "Yeah, I did it. My fault. Sentence me already."

Harrison, the first one to burst out of his study, froze. He looked at me, then back at the stairs.

"Why would I punish you for that? You were on the first floor. Brianna was on the second. You weren't even near her."

I blinked.

Right. I’d spent too long back with my foster parents—the Millers. Life there was a relentless cycle of waking up before dawn, scrubbing floors until midnight, and narrowly escaping being sold off to some local creep after they tried to force me to drop out of school.

When you live in survival mode for that long, your reflexes get a little... twitchy.

"Oh," I said, my voice flat and polite. "Muscle memory, I guess. My bad."

Harrison stared at me, speechless. He didn't launch into his usual lecture about 'decorum' or 'sisterly bonds.' I figured I’d ruined his rhythm by confessing too fast, so I tried to be helpful.

"Do you want to start the lecture over? I can go stand in the corner if it helps the process."

His frown deepened, his lips thinning into a hard line, but he stayed silent. When it became clear he wasn't going to say anything, I shrugged and turned to leave.

That’s when Tyler made his grand entrance.

He looked at me, then at Brianna clutching her ankle, and his temper hit boiling point instantly. "Madeline! You’ve been back for five minutes and you’re already bullying her?"

He marched toward me, pointing a finger in my face. "Haven't you learned a damn thing? You want to be tossed out on the street again? Is that it?"

I felt the blood drain from my face—a lingering ghost of the old fear. I looked at Harrison, but he averted his eyes, refusing to explain that I hadn't been near the stairs.

Our mother rushed past me, ignoring my existence entirely to scoop Brianna into her arms.

I felt a ghost of a smile touch my lips. "You’re right," I said, my voice devoid of emotion. "It’s my fault. I shouldn't have been standing near the light. I probably cast a shadow that dazzled her eyes and made the poor, precious girl lose her footing."

Tyler choked on his next insult. "What is wrong with your attitude!"

"Go to your room and think about what you’ve done!" My father’s roar echoed from the landing above.

"Understood," I said.

No arguing. No crying. No pleading my case.

Every time I’d tried to defend myself in the past, it only ended in more pain. My mother looked up, startled by my lack of drama. She looked like she wanted to say something, but Brianna let out a soft, melodic whimper.

"Oh, my sweet girl," Mom cooed, turning back to her. "Where does it hurt? Let Mommy see... Honestly, Madeline, why must you always be so lurking? You know how sensitive Brianna is."

There it was.

If people love you, they find reasons to justify your existence. If they don't, even your silence is a provocation.

I didn't stay to watch the rest of the performance. I went to my room, shut the door, and turned the lock.

I lay on my bed, staring at the intricate crown molding on the ceiling. Outside, I could hear the muffled sounds of laughter and pampered concern.

I didn't fit here. I never would. Not when I was screaming for attention, and certainly not now that I was fading into the background.

I sat up, wiped a stray thought from my mind, and pulled out my SAT prep books.

If you can’t join the circle, stop trying to break the door down.

While they were playing 'Happy Family' downstairs, I was going to out-study, out-work, and out-hustle every single one of them. You guys enjoy the party; I’m busy building an exit strategy.