3/14 13:18 As soon as the words left her mouth , both men turned to look at her . The cold accusation in their eyes made her recoil , her hands dropping from Ethan's arm . " What ? Wh what is it ? Wasn't it Chloe ? " Caleb let out a hollow , bitter laugh . He doubled over , shaking , a man who had completely come undone . He grabbed Ethan's arm , his eyes wild , his voice raw and ragged . " Find her , Ethan . We have to find her ! I know I was wrong ! Please ... just bring my Chloe back ... Please ... " 9 This was my second time in Savannah . The first was with my mother , her hand in mine , as we walked through the city that looked like a watercolor painting . How fast time flies . A whole decade , gone in a blink . " Chloe ! Chloe , child ! " A warm , joyful voice pulled me from my thoughts . I shook my head , clearing away the shadows , and raised my arm in a wave . ' Professor Rossi ! Grandma Althea ! " As I reached her , the old woman gave my arm a playful swat . " None of that ' Professor ' nonsense . It's Grand- na . Come here , let me hug you . I've missed you so . " 1 rested my head on her shoulder , inhaling the familiar , comforting scent of lavender from her clothes . My eyes burned . Professor Althea Rossi had been my mother's mentor at Parsons . A lifelong bachelorette with no children of her own , she had always treated my mother like a daughter . While my mom was alive , we were incredibly close . But after she passed , Professor Rossi's distaste for my father's cutthroat business world created a distance between our families . She never stopped loving me , though . She called on holidays , sent gifts for my birthday . When I'd called last month to tell her I was getting married , she'd been so excited she couldn't sleep for two days . If not for her rail health , she would have flown to Northwood herself . Thank God she didn't . gave her a heavily edited version of the story - that Caleb's family had been disrespectful , that I'd had seco- nd thoughts , and that I wanted to come learn design under her tutelage . But she was too sharp for that . She heard the tremor in my voice and knew , instantly , that I was deeply hurt . She had cried right there on the phone , her heart breaking for me . And here she was , bright and early , to pick me up herself . " Grandma , I'm so sorry . I got your hopes up for nothing . " " Nonsense ! We're better off , " she declared , her voice firm . " My Chloe is a prize rose . No sense planting her in a pile of manure . " 4/14 13:18 1 coughed , trying not to choke on my own saliva . Her fiery spirit was as undimmed as ever . Come on , let's go ! We'll get you settled , wash all that bad luck right off you . From now on , my Chloe is going to be happy every single day . " I smiled and nodded , pulling out my phone to text Maya that I had landed safely . The moment it connected to the network , it exploded . A relentless flood of notifications , messages , and missed calls cascaded across the screen . The phone vibrated in my hand for two solid minutes before it finally fell silent . A quick glance showed that ninety percent of the messages were from Caleb and Ethan . I didn't even bother to read them . I blocked their numbers , and Ava's , and sent a quick reply to Maya before shutting the screen off again . I took the arm of this wonderful , talkative old woman and let her lead me out of the bustling airport . As we stepped into the warm Georgia sunlight , the knot of pressure in my chest finally , finally began to loosen . A month later , I was working in her studio . And I was getting my ass kicked . I had always thought I was talented . I'd won awards in college , been prais ed for my eye . But the geniuses on Professor Rossi's team were on another level entirely . I felt like an amat eur . I politely declined the senior designer position she offered me and insisted on starting as an intern . I spent my days trailing behind masters of the craft , absorbing everything I could , so busy I barely had time to think . I thought this quiet , focused life would last . Then Maya called me , sobbing . " Chloe , Caleb and Ethan ... they've been trying to get your location from me for weeks . I never told them anyt hing , I swear . " Her voice was thick with panic . " But ... but yesterday , my dad ... he went through my phone . He saw our chat history and he gave them your address ! Chloe , I'm so sorry ! I never thought Caleb would be so low , to use my dad against me ! " " Did I ... did I cause you a huge problem ? " 10 Her voice was trembling , and I rushed to reassure her . " It's okay , Maya . It's not a problem . It was bound to happen eventually . We can't avoid them forever , right ? " I was prepared for a confrontation , to finally say my piece and close this chapter for good . I just didn't expe- ct them to be so fast . That evening , as I walked out of the studio , I saw them . Two figures lurking in the shadows beneath a sprawl- ing oak tree , the embers of their cigarettes glowing in the twilight . 5/14 13:18 One was skeletal , the other deathly pale . They looked like a pair of miserable ghosts . Especially Caleb . The moment he saw me , his eyes widened like a starving dog spotting a steak , and he lunged toward me I instinctively recoiled , my eyes wide with alarm . He looked like a madman . He must have realized how he appeared , because he froze a few feet away , not daring to come closer . " Don't be scared , " he said , his voice raspy . " Please , don't be scared . I'm sorry , that was ... I just ... I've missed you so much , Chloe . " A shiver ran down my spine . " Don't call me that . It's Ms. Vance to you , Mr. Thorne . " My words seemed to physically wound him . His face went another shade paler . His lips moved , but no soun came out . Ethan , standing behind him , finally lost his patience and gave him a shove . " Chloe , I'm sorry , " Ethan said , his hands fidgeting nervously . " I am so , so sorry . I know it's too late , but plea se ... just give us another chance . Come home with us . Let us make it up to you . Please ? " I looked at him , at his anxious , desperate expression , and found the whole situation bizarre . Come home ? Make it up to me ? After more than two decades , that was the most ridiculous thing I had ever heard . A laugh bubbled up , and couldn't stop it . They both stared at me , their nervousness ratcheting up another notch . " Are you joking , Mr. Vance ? " I said , my laughter dying down . " Whose brother are you ? I don't have a brother You must have me confused with someone else . " He didn't argue . He just stood there , his eyes downcast , his posture defeated . The dim streetlamp cast a long , distorted shadow behind him . I was startled by how much weight he'd lost . His cheeks were hollowed out . He kept his head bowed , his voice soft . " Chloe , I know you're angry . I'm sorry . For everything . I never should have lost my temper . I never should have thrown that wine at you . " He looked up , his eyes pleading . " I shouldn't have yelled at you , I shouldn't have hurt you . I've been looking for you every day , and ... and I've been working with designers to commission a new dress . Just ... forgive me . Please come home . " It was a heartfelt speech , I suppose . The strange thing was , it stirred nothing in me . Not a single ripple of emotion . What he owed me , what he had done to me , was so much more than a single glass of wine . I looked at his face , and it was the face of a stranger . In my memory , the grown - up Ethan was always frowni- ng , his eyes full of disappointment and suspicion whenever he looked at me . When had he ever looked at me 6/14 13:18 with such gentle remorse ? It felt like ... like we were children again . I gave a self - deprecating smile . " This has to be a dream . Either you're dreaming , or I am . " I shook my head slowly . " Don't look at me like that , Ethan . I almost don't recognize you . " He opened his mouth , desperate to say more , but just then , my phone rang . 17 held up a finger to my lips , silencing them . ' Hello ? Grandma ? What's wrong ? " ' Chloe , dear , " she sounded flustered . " Your sister is here . Why didn't you tell me she was coming ? I haven't prepared anything for a guest . " The world swam . For a moment , I thought I was going to faint . I took a few deep breaths , forcing my voice to emain steady . Grandma ... did you let her in ? " Well , yes . She said you knew she was coming . You didn't ? " Before I could answer , I heard a rustling sound on the other end , and then Ava's voice , sickly sweet , filled my ! ar . Chloe , Grandma and I are waiting for you at home . Make sure you come alone , and be quick about it , okay? lee - hee . " Something was wrong . Terribly wrong . The manic excitement in her voice , the barely concealed insanity ... it vas chilling . Okay ! " I said , forcing a cheerful tone . " I'll be right there . Alone . Ava , you'll take care of Grandma , right ? You won't let anything happen to her ? " here was a pause . Then , " Of course . As long as you get here , Grandma will be perfectly safe . " The line went dead . I broke into a run , sprinting for my car . The two men , stunned , rushed after me . Chloe , where are you going ? Wait ! " : than grabbed my arm . I whipped around and slapped him across the face , my palm stinging . Get off me ! " I screamed , my voice raw with panic and fury . " Did you bring her here ? Did you bring your sister ere ? What the hell do you people want from me ? " My sister ? You mean Ava ? " he asked , bewildered . 14 13.18 Before he could continue , Caleb , who had been silent this whole time , suddenly blurted out , " That's impossi ble ! She's supposed to be- " Caleb Ethan cut him off sharply . My suspicion grew . I glared at Ethan . " Your precious sister is at Professor Rossi's house ! And I swear to God , Ethan , if anything happens to that old woman , I will personally make sure that psychopath pays with her life ! " My threat , delivered with absolute conviction , finally broke them . They told me everything . Ava wasn't supposed to be here . A month ago , Ethan had put her on a plane and sent her overseas . Apparently , after I left , Ava assumed the path was clear . With me out of the picture , she could finally have Caleb all to herself . For the first time , she dropped the innocent act and let her true desires show . " Chloe's gone now , but you still have me , " she'd cooed to Caleb , full of hope . " I love you more than she ever did . Forget her . Love me . Marry me . " Caleb had looked at her as if she were a monster . Even Ethan , who had always indulged her , was stunned into silence . Caleb's mother , who had come over to discuss the " postponed " wedding , had let out a derisive snort . " Well , well , " she'd said , her voice dripping with sarcasm . " The little cuckoo has finally pushed the warbler out of the nest to its death . Congratulations . " Her words had made all three of them go pale . Then , turning to her son , her eyes filled with tears of rage and disappointment . " You fool ! " she'd screamed at Caleb . " Your father and I are smart people . How did we raise such an idiot ? We tried to warn you , but you never listened ! You thought we were trying to control you ! I nev- er should have convinced Chloe to marry you . You don't deserve her ! " She had stormed out , leaving a shattered silence in her wake. It was only then that the fog seemed to lift from Ethan and Caleb's eyes . Ava , meanwhile , had devolved into tears , wailing that Caleb's mother looked down on her because she was adopted . But this time , Ethan didn't comfort her . He didn't wipe away her tears . Instead , he went to his office , booked a one - way ticket , and had her enrolled in a boarding school on the other side of the world . 12 Ethan told me all of this as he sped through the city streets . In the back seat , Caleb's fists were clenched so tight his knuckles were white . Finally , he couldn't take it anymore and leaned forward . " Chloe , I love you . I swear , I've only ever loved you . I just ... I felt sorry for Ava because she was an orphan . I never- " " Just shut up , " I snapped . My heart was pounding with fear for Professor Rossi . I didn't have the energy for his pathetic excuses . 8/14 13:18 He fell silent . Both of them did . When we pulled up to the house , they both tried to get out with me , but I stopped them . I couldn't risk Ava hurting my grandmother because of them . Caleb's hand was shaking as he reached for the door handle . " Chloe , I ... " " Don't . I don't need your apology . " I walked up to the front door and went inside , alone . I had braced myself , but the sudden tightening of a cord around my neck still sent a jolt of terror through me Ava was behind me , pulling it taut . In the corner of the room , I saw her . Professor Rossi , tied securely to a chair , slumped over and unmoving . A primal scream tore from my throat . " What did you do to her ? " " Oh , shut up . I just gave her a few sleeping pills to keep her quiet , " Ava hissed in my ear . I looked closer and saw the gentle , steady rise and fall of my grandmother's chest . The relief was so intense it almost made me buckle . " So , sister , " Ava whispered , her breath hot on my neck . " Did you see Ethan and Caleb ? " My heart hammered . " No , " I lied smoothly . " Aren't they with you ? I was wondering why you came here alone . I don't know if she believed me , but the rope around my neck kept getting tighter . " Why are you so lucky , Chloe ? " she mused , her voice taking on a singsong , unhinged quality . " You were borr with everything . Everyone adored you , treated you like a precious jewel . " " Even when I spent years planting seeds of doubt , turning them against you ... they still loved you more . " I was gasping for air , my lungs burning . My hands were tied behind my back , and I could only tilt my head back , fighting for a tiny sliver of oxygen . " You ... you won , " I rasped . " They... never loved me more ... They only ever believed you ... loved you- " " LIAR ! " she shrieked , yanking the rope harder . " That wasn't love ! That was pity ! Do you think I couldn't see it in their eyes ? It was pity ! And I had to earn every drop of it by reminding them how pathetic I was , how brok- en ! " Her voice rose to a hysterical pitch . " Why ? Why do you get to have so much love without even trying ? " " Look at that old hag over there ! She's met you maybe a dozen times , and the last thing she said before she passed out was ' Don't hurt my Chloe . ' You must be laughing at me , aren't you ? Laughing because after all my scheming , I'm the one who ended up abandoned ! Well , today , I'm going to take away the thing you cherish most ! " She released the rope , and I collapsed to the floor , coughing and gagging . She picked up a lighter from the 9/14 13.18 Chap 2 coffee table and started walking toward my grandmother . My fingers fumbled for the small blade I had hidden in my sleeve , and I began frantically sawing at the ropes around my wrists . " I'm going to make you regret this for the rest of your life , Chloe . " 13 Just as the flame from the lighter touched the hem of my grandmother's housecoat , the ropes gave way . I launched myself at Ava , tackling her to the ground . The lighter flew from her hand , landing on the windowsill and igniting the long , sheer curtains . I was weak from the lack of oxygen , my limbs heavy and useless . Ava easily overpowered me , flipping me onto my back and clamping her hands around my throat . " I'll kill you ! " she screamed , her face a mask of fury . " You'll never take anything from me again ! " My chest felt like it was on fire . My vision started to tunnel , black spots dancing at the edges . The fire was spreading , licking its way across the wall toward my grandmother . Tears of desperation streamed down my face , but I couldn't break her grip . Just as the world began to fade to black , I heard the splintering crash of the front door being kicked in . "