When Govind came back, he was holding a clear folder.

The second I saw what was inside, my heart dropped.

My SAT admission ticket.

A few days ago, Govind said he was worried I'd lose it and offered to hold onto it for me.

Back then, I thought he was being considerate.

Now panic slammed into me.

"Give it back!"

I tried to get out of bed, but my leg was trapped in a cast. The slightest movement sent cold sweat pouring down my back.

Govind stood there calmly, almost confused.

"Jovie, didn't you hear what I said?" He lightly shook the folder. "If you skip the SAT, Yvette can focus. What do you even need this for?"

My whole body shook. I couldn't tell if it was rage or pain.

"Give it back... please..." I'd never begged like this before. "I swear, after the test, I'll leave. I'll stay far away. I won't go back to that family. I won't get in your way anymore. Okay?"

He stood there in the dim light, something unreadable flickering in his eyes.

"Jovie, why do you have to make this so hard?"

He pulled out a lighter and flipped it between his fingers.

Click.

Open.

Click.

Shut.

"Yvette just told me she dreamed you'd cause a scene at the test center. She woke up crying. If you go and upset her, what if she can't even make it into the exam room?"

The flame flickered, then died.

"Be good. Don't make this harder than it has to be."

My heart seized the second I saw the lighter.

"No!"

I don't know where the strength came from, but I rolled off the bed.

Pain ripped through my leg, but I still dragged myself forward.

Then the door slammed open.

Yvette rushed in with red eyes and threw herself into Govind's arms.

"Govind, am I useless? I keep thinking Jovie hates me..."

His hand jolted when she crashed into him.

The flame caught my SAT ticket instantly.

Fire tore through the paper.

Seconds later, all that was left was ash.

Govind froze, staring at the gray ash on the floor, then at me.

He'd only meant to scare me.

"Jovie, I didn't mean—"

"If Jovie hates me that much, then fine! She can have the top score!" Yvette cried, cutting him off. "She can have Mom and Dad too! Should I just die? Would that make everyone happy?"

She threw herself toward the wall, and Govind grabbed her instantly.

"Yvette! Stop!"

Something inside me finally snapped.

"Yvette Jevan, you're freaking insane!" I screamed, forcing myself upright.

Govind's eyes went cold.

Almost on instinct, he kicked me.

I flew backward, the back of my head slamming into the bedframe hard enough to black out my vision.

Blood flooded my mouth.

"Jovie!"

For the first time, panic slipped into Govind's voice as he stepped toward me.

"Govind..." Yvette shook in his arms, eyes red and helpless-looking.

But where he couldn't see, she curled her lips at me in a smile.

Govind stopped walking.

He looked down at the trembling Yvette. The panic in his eyes disappeared.

When he looked back at me, all that was left was disgust.

"Do you really have to act like this? Do you have to make everything such a scene?"

I coughed up blood.

I couldn't speak.

I didn't want to.

Yvette sniffled against his chest. "Govind, let's go. I don't wanna stay here. I'm scared..."

He never looked at me again.

He wrapped an arm around her and walked out.

I dragged myself off the floor and used the wall to keep moving, inch by inch, toward the door.

After leaving the hospital, I took a cab to school.

I limped into the building on crutches and headed straight for the academic office.

Ms. Todd was sorting seating charts. The second she saw me, she frowned.

"Jovie? What are you doing here?"

"Ms. Todd, my SAT ticket got burned. Can I get a replacement?"

Her eyes flicked to my cast before she looked away. "There's only one ticket. We told everyone to keep it safe. If you lost it, that's on you."

"I didn't lose it. It got burned—"

She cut me off immediately, her voice sharp. "Mr. Swinton already called. He said you were emotionally unstable after the accident and might come here causing problems. Besides, the system's already closed. Nobody can fix this now."

"I didn't lose it. Govind burned it..."

"Enough!" She slammed her pen onto the desk. "Jovie Jevan, I know you're a top student, but that doesn't give you the right to act entitled. You screw up at the worst possible moment, then try blaming the man paying for your education?"

I just stood there, stunned.

Five years ago, Govind first showed up at the children's home.

He didn't remember his past. Didn't even know who he was.

Before long, we were inseparable.

He protected me from bullies more than once. One time, when I got locked in isolation, he broke the door open in the middle of the night just to get me out.

Then the Swinton family found him.

Their missing heir was finally coming home.

The day he left, he held my hand and said, "Jovie, I'll come back for you. Once things settle down, I'm getting you out of here."

And he did come back.

His family paid for my school and living expenses.

Every weekend, he visited me. Took me out to eat. Bought me books. Studied with me.

Everyone said Govind Swinton was a good guy. That Jovie Jevan was lucky to have someone like him looking out for her.

I believed it too.

That's why I never imagined he'd betray me.

For Yvette.

I walked out of the office in a haze and somehow ended up in front of the honor board outside the classroom building.

The citywide mock exam rankings were posted there.

My picture sat at the very top.

First Place: Jovie Jevan.

In the photo, I was smiling, eyes bright like someone who'd finally found hope.

Now I stood under it in a leg cast, looking wrecked.

"Jovie?"

A voice came from behind me.

I froze.

When I turned around, Yvette was standing a few steps away, holding onto Govind's arm.

The second she saw me, she shrank against him. "Jovie, how could you sneak out of the hospital and spread rumors that Govind burned your SAT ticket?"

A few students passing by slowed down to stare.

"That's Jovie Jevan? I heard she got hit by a car. Why's she here making a scene?"

"Govind Swinton supported her for years. Turns out she's just an ungrateful brat."

Rage shook through me. I swung my crutch at Yvette.

Before it could hit her, Govind caught it.

Then he shoved me hard.

I slammed straight into the glass honor board.

The crash exploded in my ears.

Glass shattered everywhere.

Sharp pieces dug into my back as warm blood ran down my spine.

I hit the floor hard. Broken glass pressed into my skin, pain ripping through every inch of me.

Above me was my photo.

The girl in it was still smiling.

"Govind, did those fifteen years mean nothing to you?" I lay there, my voice raw. "Back at the children's home, you were the one who got me out of isolation..."

Blood spread across the ground beneath me.

"You said you'd get me out of that hell..."

Govind suddenly laughed under his breath. "Fifteen years?"

He crouched beside me, close enough for me to see the coldness in his eyes.

"Do you really think ending up at that children's home was an accident? That saving you was just luck?"

"It was all because of Yvette." Govind stood and looked down at me. "After you got sent away, Yvette felt guilty."

He looked at her. "So I went to the children's home for her. I treated you well on purpose. Made you completely obsessed with me. I wanted you following me around like a dog your whole life, begging for scraps, just to prove everything was your fault. People like you are born trash. You belong under someone's shoe."

My mind went blank.

So those fifteen years of salvation, the warm milk at night, the flashlight over my books—

None of it was love.

It was a fifteen-year game for Yvette's amusement.

"Take her back to the hospital. Don't let her ruin Yvette's mood before the SAT."

Before I could react, Govind wrapped an arm around Yvette and walked off.

Two bodyguards grabbed me and hauled me up.

I didn't fight back. I didn't have the strength.

They dragged me back to the hospital and dumped me onto the bed.

When the nurse changed my bandages and saw the glass in my back, she froze. "How did this happen?"

I didn't answer.

I stared at the ceiling, my eyes burned dry from crying.

After a while, the door opened again.

"Jovie!"

My mom.

I turned and saw my parents standing in the doorway.

Mom rushed over and slapped me. "You evil little thing! Did you hurt yourself on purpose to frame Yvette? You want people thinking she's cruel?"

I looked at her twisted expression and finally snapped. "Yvette pushed me back then! And now she had Govind break my leg!"

"Liar!"

She lifted her hand again, but my dad stopped her.

He looked at me like I was disgusting. "Yvette's your sister. Why would she hurt you? Govind said you're unstable. I believe him."

The last bit of strength drained out of me.

Just like fifteen years ago, nobody believed me.

And they never would.

"Call the nurse and give her a shot."

Govind's voice came from the doorway.

He leaned against the frame, expression cold. "She's unstable. She needs rest."

When I woke up, it was past midnight.

I was alone.

My phone sat on the nightstand.

I reached for it and dialed three numbers.

"Hello, I want to report a crime."

My voice came out low. "Govind Swinton attempted murder. He arranged the car that hit me. My leg's broken. I can't take the SAT."

The police showed up fast and started asking questions.

I was only halfway through when Govind walked in, calm as ever.

"Officer, I'm sorry. She was traumatized by the accident and developed paranoia."

He handed over a folder. "Here's the drunk driver's confession and compensation agreement. He already admitted fault. And these are her psychiatric records. She's been in therapy for years. Lately she hasn't been doing well."

The officers flipped through the papers, then looked at me.

I watched their expressions change.

"Ms. Jevan, get some rest. Don't think too much."

"He's lying! Please, believe me!"

I tried to go after them, but I could barely stand. I probably looked completely insane.

After they left, the door locked behind them.

Govind pulled out a metal chain and locked it around my leg, the other end hooked to the bed.

Something flickered in his eyes as he brushed my hair back. "Since you won't behave, stay here until Yvette finishes the SAT."

The door shut.

I looked down at the chain around my leg.

Then slowly reached under the pillow.

A shard of glass was hidden there.

The next second, I pressed it to my wrist.