<b>Chapter 96 </b>


    More Rewards


    (Virginia’s POV)


    I sit in my car in the empty parking lot, my hands shaking, Christmas lights flickering across my face. The steering wheel is slick with sweat from my palms, and I taste blood where I’ve bitten my tongue to keep from screaming.


    James’s text message glows on my phone screen. The words: “We love you. We want you to stay. But we won’t stop loving Scarlett and Lily to prove it. Love isn’t finite. There’s enough to share with everyone,” resounding in my ears with the force of a p.


    Everyone. So I have to share their love with Scarlett and her little bastard.


    I can’t have it all.


    I throw the phone onto the passenger seat, where it bounces andnds face–down. The c***k that spreads across the screen mirrors the one splitting through my chest.


    I didn’t expect much from ir. The woman has never bothered to hide how much she adores Scarlett, how she lights up whenever that perfect little granddaughter is around. But James?


    James is the one who disappointed me. He was supposed to be different.


    “You’re my flesh and blood,” he used to preach. “Nothing will ever change that. I’ll never love anyone the way I love my biological daughter.”


    Lies. All of it was lies.


    When it came time to choose – to pick a side- he decided to step back, taking the coward’s way out. And just like everyone else in this pathetic family, he made the decision to y both


    sides.


    But that’s fine. That little performance back there was just a game anyway. A test to see if any of them really loved me enough to fight for me. To see if they’d choose their real daughter over the recement they’d grown attached to.


    They failed. All of them.


    I lean back against the headrest, forcing my breathing to slow. The anger is useful, but I need <i>to </i>channel it to proper use. I can’t let emotions cloud my judgment now, not when I’m about to make a big move,


    The whole “leaving for Europe” story was just something I made up when I saw them together, looking like the perfect happy family. I wanted to ruin their day, to make them feel


    < Chapter 96


    bad for making me unhappy.


    The mission failed. But it doesn’t matter.


    More Rewards <b>> </b>


    I pick up my cracked phone and scroll through my messages. Thest text I sent still sits there, waiting: “John, time to get started.”


    The response came back almost immediately: “Are you nuts? This n is crazy. We’ll get caught…”


    I look back toward the festival, where my so–called family stands in a confused cluster. Scarlett has her arm around Lily now, in a protective gesture while Jasper’s hand rests on her shoulder. James and ir stand close together, probably wondering what just happened.


    “I’m not asking for your opinion,” I type back. “Just do as you’re told.”


    Three dots appear, then disappear. Then appear again.


    Finally: “It’ll cost you extra.”


    Money. Everything alwayses back to money. Good thing James has been so generous with my allowance all these years. So concerned about making sure his precious biological daughter never wants for anything.


    “Price isn’t an issue. Just make sure it’s clean.”


    “Always. You’ll have an alibi?”


    I smile for the first time all day. “I’ll be on a ne to London. Studying abroad, remember? Far away from the tragedy that’ll be happening behind me.” <fn9d0c> Checktest chapters at find{n}ovel</fn9d0c>


    My phone buzzes again: “Understood. Consider it done.”


    I set the phone aside and start my car. Time to go home and pack. Not because I’m actually leaving – not yet – but because I need to sell the story.


    The drive home passes in a blur. My mind is already working through the details, the timeline, the story I’ll tell when I get the call that deres Scarlett’s fate.


    Such a tragedy. So unexpected. If only I hadn’t left town, maybe I could have done something to prevent it…


    Yeah, right.


    I pull into a dark alley, and leave my car behind. The turns and corners of the gloomy environment cause goosebumps to break out on my arms.


    < Chapter 96


    More Rewards <b>> </b>


    I’m halfway to the front door when a ck sedan pulls up to the curb. Tinted windows, expensive but not shy. Exactly the kind of car that blends in with the background, and more often than not, gets overlooked.


    “Virginia.” The passenger window rolls down.


    I walk to the car.


    “Get in.”


    I don’t want to. But I know better than to disobey her.


    The door flings open from the inside. I scan my surroundings, making sure the coast is clear, before entering the car.


    Violet Moon


    #Vote#!


    <b>2 </b>