Chapter 2Five Years Of Playing Dead For A Lesson I Never Needed

I still couldn’t figure out what exactly my crime had been. Yes, my family was ridiculously wealthy, but I was never obsessed with luxury. My clothes and jewelry were all moderately priced. In the high-society circles of Newport Beach, I was practically an anomaly.

Graham’s face stiffened. “Why would you ask that? You’re much better now.”

“Now? What about before?” I pressed him.

He frowned. “When Mom and Dad were still here, you genuinely didn’t understand frugality. They came from nothing, bootstrapped their way up. They, and I, always had to be mindful of money. But you? You’d pester them for an expensive designer bag or a $10,000 birthday gift. What do you call that?”

I took two agitated steps forward. “We’re worth billions! Is a $1,500 smartphone really going to bankrupt us? What’s the point of making all that money if we can’t spend it?”

His face hardened. “Listen to yourself. It’s a phone, Elle. Any phone works. You were vain, always trying to keep up with those other spoiled debutantes, constantly demanding things. You’ve been fine these last five years with nothing, haven’t you?”

I stared at him, my blood running cold. In his mind, these five years had been fine?

I spent my days acting dead—begging directors to let me roll around in the mud or a freezing drainage ditch for an extra two hundred dollars. I'd lie motionless for ten hours at a stretch, rain or shine. My old rival, Vivianna—Vivi—used my misfortune to torment me, bullying me at every opportunity, and I couldn't fight back. I signed away my body for a sketchy clinical trial, and I still didn’t know what was happening to my health.

Was that a fine life?

The sharp, twisting pain returned to my stomach. I was vaguely reminded of Vivi’s taunt: “You idiot. You brought all this on yourself.”

“I’m going to follow you, Elle. Whatever set you’re on, I’ll be there. My parents can buy me a spot. You’ll be miserable for the next five years!”

I shuddered, my skin crawling with a sudden realization. Five years. Why specifically five years? Did Vivi know the truth, too?

An intuition, cold and sharp, told me that Graham and my parents were hiding something even bigger. I clenched my fists, forcing down the urge to scream the questions at him.

I nodded obediently. “You’re right. I’ll change.”

Graham set down the knife, relief flooding his face. He reached out and gently stroked my head. “That’s my sister. Good. Now, you eat. I have to go to work.”

I nodded again.

After a quiet dinner, Graham left for his ‘shift.’ I put on my mask and cap and slipped out to follow him.

He walked out of the cramped housing block and waited by the curb, dialing a number. Within five minutes, a black Maybach pulled up. I watched his long legs disappear into the luxury sedan. I quickly flagged a taxi and followed.

Thirty minutes later, he entered an exclusive, high-end steakhouse. I gave it five minutes and walked in, seating myself in a secluded booth directly behind his table.

My heart was pounding, and I didn’t dare look up. I only knew who he was meeting when I heard her voice.

“Graham, I did exactly what you asked. I’ve been giving Elle a hard time, and she’s behaved so well lately!”

It was Vivianna.