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Ialways knewIwas different.Asa child,Ididn’t join the other kids in frivolities such as laughter.Myadolescent years were spent in a rat race toward my goals.Whenboys on campus hit on me, the words sound generic to me, their compliments hollow.Maybeit was because he was older and more experienced than those boys, butDamon’sspecification, as if he were submitting concrete evidence of my beauty, suddenly made an impact.Heextracted something from me thatMomorRosecouldn’t despite years of trying.Peoplerarely unnerved me in this manner, yet this man had done so repeatedly, and he was supposed to be my archenemy.Beforelast night,Ididn't thinkMaxwellsandAmbaniscould consummate.Wemight as well be different species with body parts that didn't fit.
Iscanned the foyer of the mansion, packed with people investigating the crime scene.Insteadof wallowing over his daughter’s critical condition,Dev, the man of steel, hired independent crime analysts.Theyreenacted numerous possible scenarios, using a doll and a stuntperson to simulateRose’sfall.Theevaluations matched the incident report.Whilethere was a possibility someone pushed her, the piling evidence suggestedRoselikely stumbled off the second floor.
Devdisagreed.Deemingthe conclusion unacceptable, he restarted the process until he found an outcome whereRosecould’ve been pushed.Myuncle was in a dark place and only cared about the truth if it fit his version.
Istudied the madness unfolding in front of me, determining a distraction might be in order.
Poppy:Whatare my other desirable qualities?
Thephone lit up with a steady stream of incoming messages.
Unknown:Smoothskin
Unknown:Longdark hair
Unknown:Upturnednose
Unknown:Pinklips
Unknown:Phenomenalbody
Unknown:Perfecttits
Ihit the lock button and pocketed my phone when someone snuck up on me.
“DidDeveat anything today?”Momgreeted me with a strained smile, attempting to maintain that everything would be okay.
Ishook my head. “Herefuses to let it go.”
“He’shurting,”Momoffered sympathetically. “WhydoMaxwellsruin everything?Howdid they even get past our security?”Itwas the million-dollar question, oneDamonevaded last night when asked.
Mymother and stepfather,PiyaandZaneTrimalchio, went away for their anniversary.Roseasked if she could throw an end-of-semester rager while they were gone.Momagreed, hoping it’d force me to socialize with the peersIhad ignored for almost four years.Theparty didn’t bother me onceIlearnedSophiewas excited about the masquerade theme.Sophiewas supposed to have the time of her life and be seduced until she sang like a canary.Shewas supposed to clear theMaxwellname and end this bitter rivalry.Instead,Damonshowed up, andRosefell off the second floor.
Momfeared theMaxwells, convinced they were behind the unfortunate chain of events.Sheflew home as soon asIcalled her.Despitethe exhausting overnight flight, she spent the day cooking enough food to feed a small army.Shebelieved food cured all ailment and invited everyone from our community to be together in solidarity.EventhoughDevhijackedMom’shome for a real-life crime drama reenactment, she greeted the unraveling with compassion.Momwas one of those likable people known for her kindness to all… even those who didn't deserve it.
Speakingof which,Zaneentered the foyer and stared up. "Ishe still forcing people to jump off our staircase?”
ZaneTrimalchio, my evil stepfather, only cared about how things affected him, not the girl suffering in the hospital.Emotionless, manipulative, and cold-blooded,Zanepossessed all the traitsIgenerally admired in a person.YetIcouldn't suppress this constant wish to wipe his existence off this earth.Youcould chalk it up to my neurodivergence, thoughIhad no interest in torturing others.Thisemotion was reserved forZane.
"Don'tworry,Zane,"Isaid coolly. "Roseis doing fine and will recover within a few months.Thankyou for asking about my cousin."
Zaneignored me. “Piya, how long will that man stay with us?”
“Benice,Axel,”Momchided.Shewas the only one who still referred toZaneasAxel, his alias from his professional music days. “Devnearly lost his daughter last night.He’sprocessing.”
Processingwas putting it mildly.Devwas on a warpath.
Myphone buzzed in my back pocket, butIignored it.Devwas out forDamon’sblood, insisting on acting the part of the stuntman.Thecontractors decided it was the last straw, forcingDevto retire the pursuit for now.Consideringmy family was leading a witch hunt againstDamon, seducing me with flirtatious texts was a lousy play.Orperhaps he was waving a symbolic white flag while our families acted like buffoons?Oncethe dust settled, we’d return to the opposite ends of the war we were expected to lead.
Asthe buffet-style dinner commenced, some people scattered around the grand ballroom while others opted for the dining room.Guestscame and left at will, dropping off flowers and cards forRose.Thecompassion was a cover to further their ambitions.Funerals, birthdays, weddings—any occasion atZane’shouse was an opportunity to network.Businesscards were exchanged, interviews scheduled, and someone even asked me if “Roseanne” was still alive.
Ispent the night at the hospital, though we weren’t allowed to seeRoseuntil her condition stabilized.Theall-nighter, followed by the meaningless drama, had me teetering at the edge.Iavoided people, made myself a plate from the buffet, and snagged an empty chair at the long dining table.
Momtried to seize the chair next to mine.
“Don’tsit there.”Mygrandmother strode up and forcedMomto give up her seat.Shestopped by to pay her respects, though she had other nefarious reasons for visiting. “Pariswill sit next toPoppy.”
“Ugh.”Momvoiced my feelings on the matter, not bothering to sugarcoat her opinion ofParis.
