The guest list for the party was full of Luke’s family’s old friends and social climbers who wanted to get in with the Carters. My eyes fell on the Harrison name in the middle of the list.
Luke saw me staring at it and said, “They just moved to town recently. I heard it’s because their youngest daughter got into college here, so they all moved with her to be with her.”
gave a bitter laugh. This time around, they really were treating Janie like a priceless treasure. “She’s going to the same school as you, sweetie. You can get to know some new friends.”
After all these years, the news still made my heart clench. I smiled and said, “Okay.” It would be nice to see the Harrison family with my own eyes. I want to see them dragged to hell by
Janie.
10:03
<
At the party, I stood in the center of the hall,
wearing a custom–made dress from Mom and a
silver hairpin that Dad had gotten for me. I
opened the dance floor with Lucas. My adoptive
father looked resentfully at us. “That kid tricked
- me. I was supposed to have the opening dance with Lucy.” Mom laughed and patted his shoulder before taking him out on the dance
floor.
After the dance, my friends came over to congratulate me and give me their presents. Ethan grabbed Janie and came up to me. “Mr. and Ms. Carter, this is a small gift. I hope you like it.” He looked up and stared at me in shock. “Lucy?”
That was my name in my last life. It was raining the day I was adopted, so they gave me the first name that came to mind. I gave him a polite smile and took the gift from his hands. “Thank you. You must be Ethan and Janie.” “Nice to meet you. I’m Lucy Carter.”
<
Ethan kept his eyes locked on me all night.
Even Lucas noticed something was up and
pulled me closer, wrapping his arms around me.
“Lucy, is that Harrison guy hitting on you?
Listen to your big brother. He’s got ‘player‘ written all over his face. If you ever date
someone, you better bring them by so I can give them the third degree.”
I laughed, finding Lucas’s overprotectiveness endearing. It wasn’t that Ethan was attracted to me. It was regret. Regret that he hadn’t finished the job and left me to rot in that dumpster. That I’d somehow transformed into a Carter heiress.
Seeing us together, Ethan’s expression grew increasingly complex, like something was missing inside him. In my past life, I’d always looked at him with pure adoration.
Janie picked up on Ethan’s mood. She couldn’t stand the idea of her brother’s attention being anywhere but on her. “Ethan, Lucy Carter’s
<
nothing but a slut. All those guys swarming around her. Why are you even looking at her?”
Ethan frowned. “Janie, you’re supposed to be a
Harrison. Watch your language.” Janie pouted,
glaring at me with hatred.
On move–in day, my whole family came. Mom
bustled around, making my bed. Dad and Lucas hauled boxes of stuff into my dorm. “Come on, we live two miles from here. If you need anything, I’ll just run home and get it,” I said, looking at the pile of stuff on my desk.
Suddenly, the door crashed open, and Janie and Ethan barged in. Talk about bad luck. Lucas stepped in front of me protectively, blocking Ethan’s view. “Mr. Harrison.” Lucas nodded in acknowledgement.
“I’m worried about Miss Carter. You guys should be careful. Don’t let her affect you.” The room fell silent. Mom and Dad stopped what
<
they were doing, glaring at Ethan. “Say that
again,” Dad said.
Lucas grabbed Ethan by the collar. “I’m just
saying, be careful. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
You’ll regret it if something bad happens.”
Before he could finish, Lucas punched him in the face. “I’ll sew your mouth shut if you don’t shut it yourself.”
Janie screamed, rushing to help Ethan. He wiped the blood from his lip, looking at me. “Lucy, I’m telling you, you’re gonna ruin the Carter family.”
Dad and Lucas dragged him out. Mom rubbed my back, asking if I wanted to switch dorms. I shook my head, looking in the direction Ethan had gone. Two lifetimes, and they still thought I was the one who’d ruined their family. It was pathetic.
After Mom and Dad left, Lucas set up
