Chapter 4A House Without a Place for Me

I did my makeup, layering concealer over my swollen eyes and dark circles until I looked human again.

I slipped into my newest power suit, stepped into my four-inch heels, and became her again—Sandra Phillips, Marketing Director. Untouchable.

But I knew the truth. Underneath that sharp blazer was a heart held together by duct tape and spite.

When I pulled into the parking garage at work, I spotted him immediately.

Garrett.

He was standing by the entrance in a wrinkled button-down, hair a mess, dark circles matching mine.

He looked like he'd been there all night.

The second he saw my car, he bolted over, blocking my path as I got out.

"Sandra, thank God. I've been calling you nonstop. Why didn't you pick up?" His voice was hoarse, desperate.

I slid on my sunglasses, hiding everything, and walked past him without a word.

"I don't know you."

My voice was ice.

He grabbed my arm. "Sandra, just listen—it's not what you think! Mom and Dad didn't mean—"

"Let. Go."

I yanked my arm free.

We were making a scene. People were staring—coworkers filing into the building, slowing down to watch the drama unfold.

"Is that the Marketing Director? Who's that guy?"

"Her brother, I think. Must be family drama."

"Yikes. She always acts so put-together. Guess it's all a front."

Their whispers felt like knives in my back.

I turned to the security guard at the front desk. "This man is harassing me. I don't know him. Please remove him."

The guard hesitated, glancing between us. "Sir, you need to leave. If you don't, we'll have to call the police."

Garrett looked panicked. He tried to follow me as I walked toward the elevator.

"Sandra! You don't understand! The reason they didn't give you a key was because—"

The glass doors slid shut, cutting him off mid-sentence.

Inside the elevator, a couple of coworkers stood in the corner, whispering.

"She's so cold. She literally said she doesn't know her own brother."

"They must've had a huge fight. Who brings that to someone's job?"

I kept my eyes locked on the glowing floor numbers, feeling like I was being hollowed out from the inside.

Back in my office, I collapsed into my leather chair and let out a long, shaky breath.

My phone buzzed.

A text from an unknown number. A picture message.

I opened it.

It was a family photo.

Mom, Dad, Garrett, Vanessa, Aaron, Jessica, and Maria—all gathered in the new living room, grinning at the camera like a perfect, happy family.

Except I wasn't in it.

No—wait. I was in it!

There was a gap between Mom and Dad. An unnatural, obvious gap. The kind you get when someone's been Photoshopped out.

And in my place?

A potted plant. A big, leafy monstera.

The phone slipped from my hand and clattered onto my desk.

I couldn't breathe.

I pressed my hand over my mouth, biting down on my knuckles to keep from screaming.

Turns out, I wasn't worth keeping in the family picture.

They even replaced me with a... stupid houseplant.

My chest felt like it was caving in.

That was the moment I finally gave up.