Chapter 4

Dad's verbal backing was nowhere near enough for Chloe.

Before walking out the door, she found another way to punish me.

She wanted the ring Dad's father had left me.

I'd been sitting beside his hospital bed when he slipped it onto my finger.

"It looks beautiful," he had whispered with a warm smile. "Summer, you've had it rough these years. I hope this ring can help you whenever life gets hard."

The diamond had cast brilliant flecks of light across the white sheets.

Chloe had turned green with envy.

Now, pointing at the ring on my hand, she chirped cheerfully at Dad.

"I need something classy to show off at my new place. Why doesn't Summer just give me that ring?"

Dad hesitated. The ring had been his father's last gift to me.

Chloe immediately pouted, crossing her arms.

"What? You always say you love both of us equally, but now you won't even part with a ring?"

Dad quickly smoothed things over with a smile.

"That's not what I meant."

"What's mine is yours, of course."

He turned to me and motioned with his chin.

"Take the ring off, Summer."

I stared at the man in front of me in utter disbelief.

"Dad, your father gave this to me."

"What right do you have to give my ring to her?"

Dad stammered for half a second before his face hardened into an angry scowl.

"I'm just letting Chloe wear something pretty for a bit! How can you talk to your own father like that?"

He grabbed my wrist roughly and forced the ring off my finger.

He didn't even notice the sharp band scraping off a layer of my skin.

Watching him gently slide the ring onto Chloe's finger, my entire body shook uncontrollably. Tears spilled over my lashes.

"It's just a piece of jewelry. I'll take you to buy a new one when I get back," Dad muttered dismissively.

As Chloe brushed past me toward the door, she let out a low snicker.

"Don't cry," she whispered, keeping her voice so low only I could hear.

"That ring is fake anyway."

My head snapped up.

Chloe grinned, relishing every ounce of my shock.

"A few months ago, you left it on the vanity. I borrowed it to wear out, and I accidentally lost it."

"Dad had a cheap glass replica made to fool you."

I clutched my chest, suffocated by the sickening truth.

"That's... impossible..."

Chloe touched her glossy lips, her smile dripping with venom.

"See? As long as I want it, you don't even get to keep the fake!"

"Shut up!"

My voice cracked as I shoved her away from my ear with all my strength.

She crashed heavily to the hardwood floor, then looked up and gave me a subtle, triumphant wink.

I won, she mouthed.

SLAP!

Before I could even process what had happened, Dad's hand struck my cheek with brutal force.

His eyes burned with genuine disgust.

"You've crossed the line!"

"Apologize to Chloe right now!"

I clutched my burning, throbbing cheek, but held my chin high.

"She deserved it."

Dad glared at me, the veins in his neck bulging with rage—the exact expression he had worn years ago when defending me against that rude relative.

Except now, his wrath was aimed squarely at me.

In the end, it was a neighbor who heard the commotion and pulled him away.

"You need to learn your lesson," Dad snarled before walking out.

"I'm setting the house money aside for Chloe. And don't bother coming to dinner with us."

Those were his parting words.

I stood frozen in the cold foyer for a long time.

Until my phone vibrated in my palm.

Julian asked softly, "Are you sure you want me to come with you to your grandparents' house?"

The corners of my mouth lifted slightly. "Of course."

"Good. Look out the window."

"I'm downstairs."