the service was beginning. I had hoped to avoid a scene, to mourn my brother in pe

There

crowd, their faces a carefully constructed mask of concern. Emily, dressed in expensive black si

ragile whisper. "When you didn't answer your ph

," I said,

jected, his voice sharp with accusation. "You show up

ed?" I directed my question to Emily, my voice loud enough for those nearby to hear. "Or were you bu

and her practiced tears became real. "Mark," she sobbed, clutching hi

round Emily's shoulders. He glared at me, his face a thundercloud. "L

an who was actively trying to steal my inheritance, my fut

ithout another word, I turned my back on them and walked toward th

whisper that only I could hear. "You'll regret this, Sarah. I'll g

n't let it show. I kept walking, my head held h

n sitting empty since our parents' death. David had kept his old room exactly as it was, a time capsule of his

y ajar. My heart pounded in my chest. I pushed the door open and stepped inside. The hous

a dis

set ransacked. His old desk, a place he always kept meticulously organized, was a chaotic mess

ng for

, and in his hand, he held a small, leather-bou

, my voice trembling with rage. "How

"You're not in your right mind, Sarah. You're hoarding things that could help Emily

. "By desecrating my dead brother's ro

argued, his logic twisted and self-serving. "

d held for the boy I once loved died in that moment. He was a stranger, a thief standing in my brother's room, jus

id, my voice da

g look on his face. "We need to talk a

es burning into his. "You and I are over. Now

ainty in my eyes. His expression hardened.

there, shaking, in the ruins of my brother's childhood room. Th