Chapter 1I aced the SATs. Top scorer in my class. Yet I got arrested—for a murder I didn't commit.
Seven years in prison. Day I got out, my ex-boyfriend finally told the truth.
"The hit-and-run? Yeah, that was Hadley."
"I faked the evidence. Made you take the fall."
Then Dad spoke up. University professor. Didn't even blink.
"Oh, and I forged your transcript. Gave Hadley your Princeton spot."
Everything inside me went cold.
Seven years I wrote appeals. Tried to clear my name. Got rejected every time.
Turns out the people who destroyed me? My own family.
And the real killer—Dad's bastard daughter—she stole my life. Became a Princeton star.
"How could you FUCKING do this!"
I screamed. Tears streaming.
Silas wouldn't even look at me. Voice flat.
"You were always a bitch to Hadley. Those seven years? That's what you owe her."
"She's a professor now. Even got you a janitor job. Be grateful."
I froze. Stared at them. Then smiled.
Guess they forgot—my uncle who runs half the East Coast?
He got out this year too.
Seven years I waited.
Time to take everything back.
---
Silas was playing with his ring, talking all soft.
"So after you went to jail, me and Hadley got together. We just got engaged last week."
"She wants you at the wedding. Bridesmaid. Says it's time we all get over this."
I stared at him. Then laughed—hurt like hell but I couldn't stop.
"You want me to be friends with the people who fucked me? I'd rather die."
"Vivian!"
His whole face changed. Eyes went mean.
"You kept shoving your test scores in Hadley's face. That's why she freaked out and went street racing! Now she's messed up forever!"
"You. Owe. Her."
I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
Hadley failed her tests, tied me up in her trunk, dragged me behind her car for miles, hit someone and ran.
And I'm the bad guy?
Dad believed her. Silas believed her.
They both set me up.
My eyes were burning but I was done talking.
"Pull over."
"I need to see my mom."
Six months after I got locked up, one of Uncle's guys told me Mom jumped off a bridge.
They had me marked as a murderer. I never got to say goodbye.
Now I could.
Dad lit a cigarette, blew out smoke like he didn't give a shit.
"Your mom didn't jump. Hadley pushed her off a roof."
Everything stopped. I couldn't breathe.
"What... what the fuck are you saying?"
"She didn't mean to!"
Silas cut in, getting loud.
"Your mom figured out the truth and was gonna make a scene at Hadley's school. Hadley pushed her and she fell!"
"I'm not letting that happen."
Felt like my chest just caved in.
"What about my mom? What about me?"
"What the hell happens to us!"
"Enough!"
Dad stopped, then kept talking in that flat voice.
"I married Hadley's mom Celeste six years ago. We got a five-year-old son."
"So here's the deal. You're nice to them while you're in my house."
"Or you're going back to jail."
Tears were running down my face. I laughed but it sounded fucked up.
Mom wasn't even gone yet and he moved his mistress in. Now he wants me calling her "Mom"?
He's fucking insane.
Chapter 2
I tried to leave but Dad's security grabbed me.
"Dad! Silas!"
Hadley walked in, went right up to Silas. He put his arms around her.
"Princeton wants me! I'm gonna teach there!"
Silas had this dumb smile on his face. She pulled out a gift.
Dad looked so proud I thought he was gonna cry.
Then Hadley told someone to bring over a bowl of hot coals. Like she was putting on a show.
"Viv, I want us to get past this. I got this whole cleansing thing for you."
"My psychic says walking over hot coals clears out bad energy!"
She sounded nice but I could see she loved this.
I bit my cheek till I tasted blood.
Why?
Why did I go to jail and Mom died while this bitch gets everything?
"Get off me! You're a fucking murderer!"
SMACK.
Dad slapped me across the face.
"Vivian! Hadley's trying to be nice and you're still like this?"
My head went to the side. Before I could stand up, Silas's guys were pulling me to the fire.
"Do what Hadley said! Make her walk through! Burn it out of her!"
The fire got my legs. Hurt so much I couldn't breathe.
I couldn't see right but I saw Hadley's fake sad face.
"Viv, why do you hate me?"
"Maybe I should just die."
She started crying about dying but Silas grabbed her.
"It's not your fault, it's Vivian!"
"Hadley, don't do this over her bullshit!"
Seeing them act like that made me sick.
I remembered everything.
Elementary school—Hadley said I called her names. Dad messed up my jaw so bad I couldn't talk for a year.
Freshman year—I studied like crazy to get into this prep school. Hadley cried, so Dad broke both my arms. Couldn't sign anything.
Sophomore year—Hadley had some heart problem on a camping trip. Dad took me to the hospital and made them test me.
My heart's in her chest now.
Junior year I met Silas.
His guys got rid of the kids Hadley sent after me. He told everyone:
"Vivian's with me. You touch her, you deal with me."
I thought he was gonna help me.
Then on this class trip Hadley fell in a river. Said I sent people to hurt her.
I didn't even get to say anything. Silas hit me.
Turned out Hadley was getting to him the whole time.
Everyone I cared about, she took. Just like her homewrecker mom.
The pain brought me back.
Once Dad and Silas left, Hadley's face changed. She looked at me like I was nothing.
"Vivian, you think coming back changes anything? There's no room for you here."
She looked at the housekeeper. They threw my stuff in the dog cage.
She saw the hate in my eyes and smiled.
"A high school dropout living with my purebred Mastiff? You should be kissing my ass."
She laughed and left.
Hadley was right. I didn't belong here anymore.
But she didn't know—I wasn't here to be part of this family.
I was here to destroy it.
Chapter 3
Next morning Hadley said if I didn't go to this class reunion, she'd throw out Mom's ashes.
I knew what she wanted—show me off, watch me suffer.
We walked in and everyone came up to her, trying to give her drinks.
Hadley put her hand up. Acting all humble.
"Nah, I'm done drinking."
"Just found out I'm pregnant. Gotta stop for the baby."
Everyone went crazy.
"Damn, I knew it!"
"Finance person and professor—that kid's gonna be smart as hell!"
"I told you in high school! You two are perfect!"
"Not like some people. Turned into a killer!"
The people saying this? Same losers who followed Hadley around back then.
They made me drink from the toilet. Burned me with cigarettes. Took pictures of me naked. Posted them everywhere.
I tried telling a teacher once. Hadley said I was hooking for money.
School put it on my record.
Seeing these assholes again, I just sat there.
But they looked at me like I was gross.
"Oh look, class president's here. You're out?"
"No way. She killed two people. Shouldn't she be dead?"
"Why's a convict at our reunion? This is fucked up."
Everyone started covering their noses. Acting like I smelled.
Hadley put her hands up. Playing the nice one.
"It's a reunion. Let's not do this."
"Viv changed. I got her a job at my school. Campus security. She gets to be on a college campus at least."
They looked at each other. Voices all fake.
"Campus security? Good for a dropout convict."
"Too bad the people she killed don't get second chances."
Every word felt like a knife.
I was clenching my fists so hard my nails dug into my palms.
Then someone looked confused.
"Wait, wasn't she a good kid in school? How'd she become a hit-and-run killer?"
The losers laughed.
"She was fake!"
"You didn't hear? Her mom acted all proper but she was crazy. Six years ago she tried hooking up with their driver. He said no. So they both jumped off a bridge!"
I froze.
Why?
Why won't they leave Mom alone? She's dead.
Hadley sighed next to me. Acting all sad.
"Dad was gonna let them be together but she just... she went too far."
Just like that the lies sounded true.
"Like mother like daughter! Her mom ran off with the driver, what do you expect!"
"For real! You can't trust anyone! She was bad luck for our whole class!"
"If my sister was in prison I'd cut her off. Hadley's too nice!"
"Vivian, get down and thank her!"
I couldn't take it. Grabbed a bottle. Smashed it.
"SHUT THE FUCK UP!"
