9
Suicide? How was that possible?
I stared at Summer. She was a killer.
But she was in jail. How did she do it?
Everyone looked at me with contempt.
Summer curled her lips and hugged Jake,
crying.
L
“Jake, Daisy wants to ruin my life so you
won’t marry the Holbrooks.”
“The criminal is dead. Mr. Holbrook will hear
this.”
Another voice cut in.
“Don’t explain. I know you.”
Sean appeared.
My parents greeted him.
Summer looked shy.
“Thank you, Mr. Holbrook.”
Sean glared at her.
“No need to thank me. I was there.”
Sean told everyone the story, and the room.
went silent.
He couldn’t prove Summer betrayed me, but
he proved I didn’t abandon her.
Whether he was telling the truth, Sean
testified.
Everyone nodded.
Summer was pushed away by Jake.
Mom looked at me, her voice hoarse.
“Daisy, Mom…”
Dad cleared his throat.
<
“Daisy, so you had something with Mr.
Holbrook.”
I cut them off.
“I’m sorry. You’re mistaken. Your daughter
died a few months ago.”
“My name is Rachel Green.”
Jake lost it.
“Daisy Miller, don’t talk to Mom and Dad like
that. Summer can’t remember, but we know.
“You’re only with Holbrooks because you
saved him. Without the Millers, you wouldn’t
be anything. You’re ungrateful.”
I laughed.
L
“You sent me to that camp. Do you know
what I went through?”
“I broke ribs five times, my legs three times.
They shaved my head twice. They gave me a
roll and a bowl of water every day. They cut
off my stomach because I got hormones.
“Do you know why my leg was amputated?
Because I escaped to you for help, and you
sent me back. They cut off my leg.”
“Now you say it’s a mistake? The Millers are
my backbone?”
I said.
Sean shielded me.
Г
“I named her Rachel Green. I’m her backbone.
I think she’s a princess.”
I didn’t know what to feel.
Jake gasped.
“How? The money went from the family. How
can they?”
He looked at my parents.
They shook their heads.
“The money went to the account.”
They called, and they were told the money
was sent to Summer.
L
Everyone stared at Summer.
“What did you do?”
Sean said, “What is her relationship with the
camp?”
Summer started trembling and stared at
Sean.
The police walked in.
“Summer Miller, you’re under arrest.”
After the kidnapping, Summer had been
involved in many crimes, and the camp was
one of their bases.
My parents screamed.
<
“Why? She’s your sister!”
“Daisy, I’m sorry!”
I walked away.
Later, they told me Jake stabbed Summer a
dozen times.
Mom had a heart attack.
Dad had a stroke and was paralyzed.
I didn’t visit them.
I had no family.
Three years later, I won gold at the dance
competition, and Sean proposed.
With love, my new life was just beginning.
