Chapter 17

What did he mean? Was Derek hiding something? I was completely in the dark, noticing only how Chase’s expression grew increasingly serious.

Nearby, Nicole basked in the Kennedy family's glow, her face radiating pride. Her mother gushed, "Nicole is incredible. A few paintings have earned millions!"

"She's not like Amanda," her mother continued. "Amanda's teachers said she was talented, but what has she accomplished? Honestly, she can't compare to you."

Her brother added, "By the way, have you heard from Amanda? Her phone's been off. She's been so irresponsible lately, worrying the family."

"I heard she went to Cloudville," their mother said. "Mom, Dad, I've said it all along. We shouldn't have spoiled her. She's made a mess and left without a word. That was reckless."

"Don't be upset," her father soothed. "Maybe she just needed space. When she returns, she needs to apologize. A good scolding is the only way she'll learn."

Watching Nicole's feigned demeanor, I longed to rip off her hypocritical mask. Everyone believed her, unquestioningly hanging on her every word. I could handle a lover changing his mind, but the coldness from my family? That was unbearable.

My mother carried me for nine months. How could she be so heartless? I loved painting. On my sister's birthday, she stormed into my studio, destroying my paintings—splashing paint and tearing them apart. She called me heartless for continuing to paint after Nicole's death, a cold-hearted brat.

She resented me from that moment, believing I should have been the one to disappear, not Nicole.

Nicole and Chase stirred up trouble, blaming me without hesitation. After my death, they weren't searching for me; they discussed beating me.

I touched my face; no tears fell. Why did it hurt so much? Thick snowflakes began to fall, eerily reminiscent of the snow before my death. When would they realize I was gone?

Soon, the gallery incident exploded, and stories about Nicole and me trended online:

FakeAmanda

GeniusArtistTurnsOutToBeAHeiress

AmandasGross

PricyArtwork

SweetNicoleDonates300Million

Public opinion was chaotic. Standing behind Chase, I watched him scroll through his phone, his brow furrowing deeper with each swipe.

Nicole, clinging to his arm, said, "Chase, I didn't know it would blow up like this. Maybe we should try to tone down the trending topics a bit."

"Tone it down? Why should we?" my mother retorted, dressed in the finest clothes and makeup, her words icy.

Chapter 18