1 The golden boy they adopted said I stole his precious necklace. My sister, my own flesh and blood, went ballistic. She didn't just drag me to court; she hired the best lawyer to make sure he won. I got three years. Branded a thief. Before they took me away, her lawyer tried to reason with her. "Just scare him a little, that's enough," he'd said. "A real prison sentence will ruin your brother's life!" My sister’s face was a mask of stone. "Stealing isn't a small thing. He needs to learn a hard lesson." "As for his future?" she added, her voice unwavering. "I'll be his safety net." Three years later, I walked out of those gates. She was waiting, her eyes bloodshot as she reached for me. "You see your mistake now, don't you?" she asked. "Come on. Let's go home." But I just took a quiet step back, letting her hand fall through empty air. I had a new sister now. I met her on the inside. She told me she believed me. … My sister, Pathy, froze, a flicker of disbelief in her eyes as I dodged her touch. But she didn't pull her hand back. Instead, it shot out again, faster this time, her fingers wrapping around my wrist with a grip of iron. "Patrick, why are you avoiding me? Did someone hurt you in there?" Her voice was thick, like it was being pushed through cotton. I tried to pull my hand away, once, twice, but her grip was too tight. I gave up. "No," I said, my voice flat. She let out a breath she’d been holding. "Good," she whispered, squeezing my hand tighter. "That's good. I read things online, that it's… not a place for people. I'm so glad you weren't bullied…" Watching the relief flood her face, the way her eyes grew redder by the second, a bitter, mocking laugh echoed in my head. The one who moved heaven and earth to put me in here… wasn't that you, Pathy? What good was this concern now? She forced a bright smile, tugging me toward a sleek black car like a peace offering. "You always loved a good party, right? I've planned a huge welcome-home celebration for you." "Come on," she said again. "Let's go home." I glanced back at the prison, its grey walls stark against the sky. Nina. That was my new sister’s name. She'd been framed for financial fraud and had another month left on her sentence. We’d made a pact. In one month, I’d be back here, waiting at this very gate to pick her up. We were going to build a life together. But Dad’s old photos and his signet ring were still in that house. I needed them. So, I let Pathy lead me to the car. On the drive, she ran her hand over my shaved head, a gesture that was half a caress, half a warning. "Patrick, no more stealing. You understand? This was your lesson." My fingers curled into a fist. For three years, I’d used the prison guards to pass her countless messages. I didn't steal Ethan's necklace. He framed me. She never believed it. So this time, I didn't bother explaining. I just nodded like a good boy and played along. "I know." A satisfied smile spread across her face. When she pushed open the front door, a party popper exploded with a loud BANG!, showering us in a blizzard of colored streamers. Ethan, the boy I hadn't seen in three years, stood there holding the empty tube, his eyes crinkling with a joyful smile. "Welcome home, big brother!" He laid the affection on thick, his eyes practically overflowing with feigned adoration. He looked nothing like the boy whose face had been twisted with jealousy and venom when he’d accused me of theft. I ignored him, brushing past his shoulder as I walked inside. His smile faltered. He looked to Pathy, a wounded, awkward plea in his eyes. "Why is he ignoring me? Is he… is he still mad at me?" Pathy patted his head, her voice dripping with indulgence. "Patrick just got out, he's probably not used to things yet. It's not your fault." I was already in my old bedroom, pulling open the drawer under my bed. Dad's photos and his ring were still there. A wave of relief washed over me. Pathy appeared at the doorway. "Patrick," she called softly, "come out and eat. You're so thin I can see your ribs." I slid the drawer shut and followed her out. At dinner, Ethan kept prodding, his questions laced with a false innocence. "So, what was it like in there, bro? I heard it’s really rough, is that true?" "It’s not rough," I said, my voice monotone. "You read books and newspapers every day. After dinner, you go back to your dorm." "Oh. Well, that sounds alright, then. Not as bad as I imagined." A shadow of disappointment flickered across his face. Pathy placed a peeled shrimp on my plate. "Now that you're out, let's not talk about that place anymore," she said with a light laugh. "Just think of it as an experience. Put it behind you." Ethan's eyes darkened, and he fell silent. A moment later, as if remembering something, he jumped up and ran to his room. He came back with a small, exquisitely wrapped box and held it out to me. "This is for you, big brother. A welcome home present!" I didn't take it. I just kept eating. He didn’t seem to mind. With a grin, he opened the box himself. A luxury watch lay nestled on a velvet cushion, its face gleaming under the dining room lights. I saw it, and my pupils shrank to pinpricks. The blood in my veins turned to ice. It felt like I’d been plunged into a frozen lake. Ethan pushed the box closer, his face twisting into a grotesque, chilling grin. "What's wrong, brother? Isn't this your favorite watch? You loved it so much you had to steal it." "Now I'm giving it to you," he hissed, his voice a venomous whisper. "Aren't you happy?" That watch. The "pearl necklace" was a lie to the press. It had been a watch. A gift from Pathy to Ethan. And it was the very reason I’d spent three years behind bars.