Chapter 6

"Every single..."

Big Brother finally exploded, grabbing the ashtray from the table and about to smash it on the man's head.

Third Brother quickly grabbed Big Brother's hand.

"Let's go outside. Don't disturb Little Sister's rest."

Feeling their gazes turn toward me, I quickly shut my eyes, pretending to be asleep.

Once the door closed, the tears I had held back for so long finally rolled down my cheeks in big drops.

"Little Sister."

Third Brother just called me Little Sister.

Since Violet came home that year when I was eighteen, afraid of upsetting her, my three brothers never called me Little Sister again.

As I cried, I gradually drifted back to sleep.

In my dream, I returned to the day I first met Fletcher.

That year, I was eight years old. It was my fourth year at the Stratton Family Estate.

I had always loved candy, but at eight, it was prime time for losing baby teeth. Mom and Dad were afraid I'd get cavities, so they never let me eat sweets.