The next morning, the second I opened my door I was hit by a glare of red. Paint had been splashed everywhere, all over the door and the wall.
Several dead rats lay on the ground too, their bellies torn open.
The stench rushed into my nose and I gagged, hurrying out the front gate before it eased.
Out on the street, people pointed and murmured about me.
I pretended I couldn't hear any of it. Mom and Dad had already gotten the trending topics taken down, and in a while these people would forget.
But when I got to work, I was told I'd been fired.
My things had been boxed up and dumped beside the trash can.
A coworker I got along with pulled me into the restroom and dropped her voice.
"Hannah, what did you do to the Winfields? They pressured the boss and said he had to fire you, or they'd cancel their contract with the firm!"
I looked at her fretting on my behalf and nodded, giving her a reassuring smile.
"It's fine. I was planning to leave soon anyway."
She patted my shoulder and left.
I'd only come to this firm to get some experience. I really was going to move on before long.
I was carrying my box downstairs when I saw the Winfields sitting in the lobby.
Lola's eyes were certain she'd already won.
"Come back. Once you've cured your sister, be the Winfield family's private attorney. I'll pay you five hundred thousand a year, a lot more promising than this little firm."
"New York isn't run by the Winfields. There's justice in this world, and people are watching what you do!"
I glanced at Lola and kept walking, my things in my arms.
The smug look on her face froze on the spot.
"Stop right there! You are donating bone marrow to your sister today! I'm your mother! You do as I say!"
Lola couldn't hold the refined-lady act together anymore, stamping her feet in fury.
"Hannah, when did you get so heartless? You were so kind as a child!"
Quinn blocked my path, his face a picture of grief and pain.
This time I really looked at him, and let out a cold sneer.
"So what did being kind get me back then? A knife in the back from the people closest to me? I'm not stupid enough to do that twice. Move."
I slammed hard into Quinn as I passed. His mouth opened, but not a word came out.
Hatred flickered in Nadia's eyes. She trotted over to me and gripped my leg, refusing to let go.
"Sis, please, save me. I really don't want to die. It's just bone marrow, it won't affect your health at all. If I live, I can honor Mom and Dad in your place, ah!"
I kept walking, then heard a cry. Nadia's body suddenly toppled backward.
Her head cracked against the corner of a table, and warm blood came pouring out at once. She slumped limply into the arms of Quinn, who had rushed over.
"Don't blame Sis. It was my own fault, I wasn't careful. If she doesn't want to, then forget it. I just hope that after I'm gone, she'll honor Mom and Dad for me..."
Blood covered Nadia's face, and still she was thinking of them.
Louis and Lola broke into tears in an instant, clutching her hands tight.
"No! You're our only daughter, we can't lose you. If anything happens to you, Mom won't go on living either!"
"Call an ambulance! Somebody help!"
"Nadia!"
The three of them were a chaotic mess. Quinn turned to look at me, his eyes full of hatred.
"If anything happens to Nadia, I'll make you pay with your life! You're coming to the hospital with us!"
The words had barely left his mouth before several bodyguards dragged me into a car by force.
