Chapter 2Third Return And I Am Done

The first time I stepped into the Mercer mansion, I felt like a glitch in a high-definition movie.

I was wearing scuffed sneakers and a faded hoodie, my heart hammering against my ribs. Across from me stood Brianna, draped in soft pink silk, flanked by Harrison and Tyler like she was a royal being guarded by her knights.

They didn't look at me with joy. Especially Tyler.

He stepped in front of Brianna, his eyes narrowing as if I were a common thief coming to snatch his favorite toy.

Back then, I couldn't wrap my head around it. I was the one with their blood in my veins. I was the sister they had lost. Brianna was the one who had lived my life, stolen my years of comfort.

But no one saw it that way.

Brianna was "perfect." She played the cello, excelled at ballet, and had the kind of effortless grace that only comes from never having been hungry. Who wouldn't prefer the polished diamond over the jagged rock?

Dinner was always a highlight reel of her achievements.

"Brianna won first chair!"

"Brianna was invited to the debutante planning committee!"

"Brianna placed in the top of her class! She’s so gifted."

No one looked at the ugly duckling at the end of the table. Even my mother, who had been so emotional when the DNA test first came back, fell into the rhythm of Brianna-first.

She’d serve Brianna’s favorite dishes. She’d laugh at Brianna’s jokes. When they went shopping on Fifth Avenue, she’d gravitate toward colors that suited Brianna’s complexion, not mine.

I realized quickly that I couldn't compete with Brianna's "charm." I didn't have the training or the pedigree. All I had was my brain.

So, I studied. I survived on three hours of sleep, adapting to the grueling standards of their private prep school.

When finals came, I placed in the top ten. It wasn't the number one spot I used to hold back in the rural district, but in this cutthroat environment, it was a miracle.

Finally, I had something better than Brianna.

I remember clutching my report card, my palms sweating. I imagined the pride in my parents' eyes. I imagined Tyler finally acknowledging that I belonged.

But there was no praise. Only an interrogation.

It started with a "well-meaning" comment from Brianna: "Madeline is so amazing. Everyone said that physics exam was impossible, and she barely spent a month in our curriculum. It’s almost... unbelievable. People are saying she must have had the answers beforehand."

They didn't even hesitate. They couldn't believe the "rural girl" could outsmart their golden child.

My father slapped me.

My mother pulled Brianna away as if my "dishonesty" were contagious. "Madeline, you can fail," she whispered, looking heartbroken. "But a Mercer does not cheat."

That was the first time they sent me back to the Millers. For "lack of character."

The second time I was brought back, I learned to keep my mouth shut. Until the night of the Charity Gala.

Brianna accused me of stealing a diamond tennis bracelet. I’d seen the trap coming and caught it on my phone—proof that she had slipped it into my bag herself.

I thought I’d won. I thought I’d shown them the truth.

Instead, my father dragged me into his study. His first words weren't an apology. They were: "Do you have any idea how much embarrassment you caused this family tonight?"

I stared at him, stunned.

"Even if Brianna made a mistake, you should have handled it privately. You didn't have to humiliate her in front of our guests," he said, rubbing his temples.

"But she lied... she tried to frame me..." I stammered.

My mother slapped me then. "Madeline, why must you always try to tear her down?"

They didn't look at me with guilt. They looked at me with exhaustion.

So, I was exiled a second time. For "not being a team player." For "failing to see the big picture."