by piece with a patient smile. He was the one who would show up with my favorite milk tea just because I mentioned off-handedly that I was craving it. Today was no diffe

e," he said, tapping a line with the end of his pen. His attenti

y to her chest. She hesitated, a hopeful look on her face. "Liam

voice turned sharp, all the warmth gone. "C

warmth of Liam' s focus returning to me. He was always like this, endlessly patient with me, and dismissive of her. This unwavering favorit

ou tonight," he promised, giving my hand a gentle squeeze. I watched hi

my dad sometimes let Liam stay over to study. The door was slightly ajar, and I heard his voice, soft and low. I smiled, thi

enderness I had never heard before, a tone he res

, Em. Just be patie

e. My breath cau

"I' m sorry, Em, but only when Chloe falls, will everyon

words. Chloe falls. See you. He was talking about me. He was talking to Emily. The kindness, the attention, the love I thought w

eces started clicking into place with horrifying clarity. The way he' d subtly praise Emily' s resilience in front o

sound. "Don' t worry about her. She' s just 'pulling a Chloe'

d laughed and said, "Oh, Chloe," when I dropped a book or fumbled with my keys, I thought it was affectionate teasing. It wasn' t. It was contempt. I was a p

ated, disgusted, and utterly betrayed. I wouldn't fall.

echoing in my chest. My mind was a blur of pain and anger. I fumbled for my phone, my fingers clumsy and slick with a cold sweat. I scro

a

s a stern, busy man, consumed by his work, and I was the rebellious daughter who resented his absence. He wanted me to be the perfect hei

ther' s voice wa

e something in me. "Dad," I managed to say, my own vo

he line. I held my breath, my knuckles white a

acteristically gentle. "I' ll arrange it.

had always refused, wanting to stay close to Liam. The irony was a bitter pill to swallow. The escape hatch I never thought I' d need was put there by the one person wh