Chapter 1

My brother's adopted sister said I leaked company secrets. My brother flew into a rage.

Not only did he put me in the defendant's seat, he hired the company's best legal team to testify against me.

I got three years. Became a corporate spy.

Before sentencing, the lawyer cornered him in the courthouse hallway:

"Marcus, you've made your point! A conviction for corporate espionage will destroy Audrey's life forever!"

Marcus's expression didn't even flicker:

"She committed a fundamental breach of trust. She has to face the consequences."

"As for the future, I'll handle it."

Three years later, I walked out of the state penitentiary. His eyes were bloodshot as he reached toward me:

"Now do you understand you were wrong? Come on. Let's go home."

I just stepped back, avoiding his outstretched hand.

My phone buzzed with a text.

"How did it go? Call when you can."

I'd met someone inside who believed me.

His name was Daniel.

A former prosecutor who'd become a legal aid volunteer after losing his career. We'd corresponded for two years through letters, and he'd believed me when no one else would.

He had some matters to handle and couldn't pick me up, but we'd made a promise—once he finished dealing with his affairs, he'd come find me, and we'd start a life together.

And I still had things to collect from the Cross mansion – Mom's journal and her other belongings.

Marcus's hand froze mid-air, knuckles going white.

But that hand didn't retreat. Instead, it shot forward faster, grabbing my wrist.

"Audrey, what are you pulling away for? Did someone hurt you in there?"

I tried to pull free twice but couldn't.

"No."

He exhaled in relief, gripping tighter.

"Good... I've seen those documentaries. That place isn't fit for humans."

I watched his reddening eyes and laughed coldly inside.

Marcus, you were the one who put me in there. What's with the act now?

He forced a smile, pulling me along:

"I organized a welcome home party. Vivian decorated everything herself."

I wore the gray prison-issued hoodie.

Marcus reached over to touch my head.

I ducked away.

His hand froze, then patted my shoulder instead.

"Audrey, you can't touch company data anymore, understand? This was your lesson."

I stared at my reflection in the window.

Three years I'd sent twelve letters through guards, saying I never accessed Cross Technologies' servers, that Vivian had sabotaged the merger herself and pinned it on me.

He never believed me once.

So this time I nodded:

"I understand."

He looked satisfied, like he'd tamed some unruly animal.

My phone buzzed in my pocket.

I pulled it out. The screen showed a new message from Daniel: "Once I clear my own name, I'll come find you—that's our promise."

When Marcus pushed open the front door—BANG—

Streamers and confetti rained down.

Vivian clutched a party popper, eyes curved into crescents:

"Audrey! Welcome home!"

She rushed to hug me, her perfume making me step back.

Vivian's smile froze. She turned to Marcus, eyes instantly welling up:

"Is sister still mad at me..."

Marcus ruffled her hair, voice indulgent:

"She just got out. Still adjusting."

I walked straight through the living room.

My old room was at the end of the hallway.

I turned the handle, knelt down, and pulled open the bottom drawer of the nightstand—

The notebook was still there.

My fingers trembled as I opened to the first page. Mom's handwriting:

"I hope you'll always protect each other, becoming the most trustworthy people in each other's lives."

The words were like acid on old wounds.

"Audrey?"

Marcus stood in the doorway.

"Come down for dinner..."

I shoved everything back in place.

"Dinner's ready." Marcus stood in the doorway, studying my face. "You're thin. Too thin."

"Prison food hardly counts as five-star dining."

He flinched.

I followed him downstairs.

Vivian sat directly across from me.

She propped her chin on her hands:

"Sister, what was it like in there?"

I looked straight into her eyes. "Very quiet. Lots of time to read. Lots of time to think."

"Oh—" she drew out the syllable, disappointment flashing in her eyes, "that sounds pretty easy then."

Marcus ladled soup into my bowl:

"Now that Audrey is out, let's not talk about that place."

Vivian pouted, then suddenly jumped up like she'd remembered something:

"Oh right! I prepared a gift for sister!"

She ran upstairs and came back clutching a ribbon-tied gift box, pushing it toward me.

"Open it!"

I didn't move.

She didn't mind, untying the ribbon herself and lifting the lid—

Inside was a gray T-shirt. Prison gray. Numbers printed across the chest: 47291.

My prisoner number.

The dining room went dead silent.

Vivian's sweet smile twisted into something grotesque. "What do you think? That number should be pretty familiar, right? I thought you might want a memento."

Marcus set down his utensils.

"Vivian, go change that."

"Why?" Vivian blinked innocently. "I think it's very meaningful—sister's important life stage—"