By nightfall, I had a sprained ankle, a bruised shoulder and a heart that felt like it had been crushed.
I limped to the phone, dialed an international number I hadn't touched in a decade.
"Professor Murray," I said, my voice low, "I'm ready to join the research project."
——
It was a call I should've made ten years ago.
The moment I ended the call, Sara walked in. Elise followed, arms crossed, gaze sharp with the kind of disdain only a child scorned could carry.
"So you heard everything," Sara said. Her tone was casual now, like a burden had finally been lifted. "Then I won't bother pretending anymore. Francis is coming back soon. You'd better behave. Don't stir up trouble, or there really won't be a place for you in this house."
Elise stepped forward, her eyes cold and unforgiving.
"If you hadn't raised me all these years," she said with a sneer, "I would've told Mom to kick you out a long time ago."
Her words didn't stop there.
"You think you're special? If you weren't my dad's brother, do you really think you would've had a chance with my mom?"