Chapter 82
Chapter 3
Friday morning the day before SATS.
Also Charlotte’s birthday. Find the newest release on.net
Blake, Ryan, and Kai were practically fighting over the bathroom mirrors at dawn, getting all dressed up like they were going to prom or something.
Designer polos, fresh Jordan drops, and brand new Apple Watches that definitely weren’t cheap.
Looks like they’d been absolutely draining Mom and Dad’s accounts to impress little miss perfect.
I was making my usual breakfast when Mom materialized in the kitchen, wearing full Chanel at 7 AM with makeup that probably took her an hour. She looked pissed.
“Madison, what the hell is wrong with you lately? ”
She didn’t even say good morning – just went straight for the jugular.
“Your brothers told me you’ve been acting like they don’t exist. Seriously? You think you’re too cool for this family now? ”
“You used to actually give a damn about them. Now you’re walking around here like some moody teenager throwing a tantrum p>
I kept facing the stove, transferring my eggs to a plate without looking at her.
“They’re eighteen, Mom. They can figure out their own lives p>
Wrong answer, apparently.
“Figure out their own lives? They’re barely adults! You’re supposed to be looking out for them! They’re going to some party today and you’re just… what, ignoring them completely? What if something happens? ”
The irony was absolutely killing me.
Last time around, I’d bought into this exact guilt trip, hovering over them like some helicopter parent, and it got me murdered.
And when they were literally torturing me and my husband to death? Mom and Dad were too busy protecting their golden boys‘ college prospects to give a shit about us.
I picked up my plate and brushed past her.
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“Not my circus, not my monkeys p>
“Excuse me?!” Mom’s voice cracked, and I could practically feel her glaring daggers at the back of my head.
When I got to school, something felt off immediately.
There was this huge banner stretched across the main entrance: “Happy Birthday Charlotte! You’re Amazing p>
Charlotte was holding court in the courtyard, surrounded by her usual army of followers, but my three brothers were really going all out to impress
her.
Blake had gotten her the new PlayStation – probably dropped like six hundred bucks on it.
Ryan was clutching this massive bouquet that looked like it came from some fancy florist downtown.
And Kai was handing over what looked like one of his math competition trophies in some expensive gift wrap.
They were eating up all the attention, giving these loud speeches about how “real friendship is more important than some stupid test. ”
I kept my head down and walked straight past the whole show.
4
Chaquet 3
That’s when Charlotte’s radar locked onto me.
She dashed that perfectly practiced innocent smile and grabbed Blake’s arm.
“I feel like Madison really hates me she probably thinks I’m going to mess up your SATs tomorrow, right p>
Every head in the courtyard turned toward me like I was some kind of exhibit.
Ryan’s face went nuclear.
He spun around and basically put me on blast in front of half the senior class.
“My brother’s just bitter because she knows she’s never getting into anything better than community college! She’s jealous of Charlotte because Charlotte’s actually cool and successful p>
“Honestly, everyone should just pretend she doesn’t exist p>
And just like that, the mob mentality kicked in.
“Wow. I always thought she was just shy p>
“She’s actually that toxic? Yikes p>
“Imagine being that insecure that you can’t handle your brothers having popular friends p>
The rest of the day was like living through some twisted social media pile–on, except in real life.
Someone keyed “LOSER” into my locker.
My backpack got “accidentally” knocked over in the hallway, spilling everything.
People would bump into me and then act like I was invisible when I looked up.
The whispers and snickering followed me everywhere – bathroom, cafeteria, even during class.
My brothers had basically weaponized their entire social circle against me, one day before the most important test of our lives.
When the guidance counselor called home about the “incident“? Mom’s response was: “Madison’s just being dramatic. She’ll be fine by tomorrow p>
I didn’t defend myself or try to explain what really happened.
I just cleaned up my stuff, fixed my locker, and mentally catalogued every single person who decided to join in.
My silence just made everyone more convinced they were right about me.
Ryan was watching me get completely shut out by everyone, and he looked absolutely thrilled about it.
All three of them thought they’d finally put me in my place and killed my “jealous attitude” once and for all.
Now they could go worship their little princess without any interference from me.
They walked out of school like they owned the place, with half the senior class trailing behind them like groupies.
That night at Charlotte’s birthday bash, things got messy fast.
The party was at some house with mood lighting and a full bar setup, and my brothers were acting like complete idiots trying to one–up each other for
Charlotte’s attention.
Ryan kept doing shots and beer pong, trying to prove he could outdrink everyone there. By 10 PM he was wasted, slurring his words and stumbling into furniture.
Blake was running his mouth about Dad’s company and name–dropping colleges, promising Charlotte they’d end up at Harvard together or some bullshit like that.
Chapter 3
And Kai was being his usual creepy self sitting in the corner chain smoking and downing whiskey while staring at Charlotte like some stalker.
When the party started dying down around midnight, Charlotte pulled her classic damsel in distress routine
“Oh my God, I’m so wasted… can someone please drive me home? I can’t even walk straight p>
That one line immediately set off World War Three between my drunk ass brothers.
“I got you, babe p>
“Nah, Charlotte’s riding with me p>
“Tuck that – we’re all going together p>
They looked like three pathetic simps fighting over who got to be her personal chauffeur as they stumbled out into the night.
Sara Lili
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.