3 I left the house and sat on a bench in the neighborhood park all day. This time, Pathy didn't come after me. She must have finally washed her hands of me, disgusted and disappointed beyond repair. I had no money, so I started looking for a job, any job that offered food and board. But the moment they heard I’d been in prison, the answer was always no. My only option was a construction site. The foreman looked me up and down, his brow furrowed. "You're all skin and bones. This is hard labor. You sure you can handle it?" I put on my most eager smile. "Give me a shot, sir. I might be thin, but I'm stronger than I look." He was still hesitant, but I didn't wait for permission. I grabbed a wheelbarrow and started working, moving with a speed and efficiency that surprised him. Finally, he nodded. "Alright, you're on. Food and a bunk are included. Hundred bucks a day." "One thing, though," he added. "This is a short-term project. We'll be done in a month." I beamed. A month was perfect. By then, Nina would be out, and I’d have a place to go. I worked on that site for over three weeks. When Pathy found me, she was so shocked she almost didn't recognize me. My hair had grown out into a messy, unkempt mop. My clothes were caked in a permanent layer of dust that puffed off me with every step. She stood at a distance, just watching, her eyes slowly turning red. Finally, she ran over and grabbed my wrist. "What are you doing here? Patrick, do you have any idea how long I've been looking for you?" "Come on, let's go home. You can't be doing this kind of work!" I shook her off and hefted a stack of bricks onto my shoulder, pretending I didn't know her. Her lips tightened into a thin line. She didn't try to persuade me again. Instead, she turned and marched over to the foreman. I couldn't hear what she said. A few minutes later, the foreman walked over, his face grim. "Patrick, why didn't you tell me you did time for theft? We can't have thieves on this site. You're fired." "And don't expect any pay," he grunted. "Get lost." Panic seized me. "Please, sir, give me a chance," I begged. "I was framed, I swear. I've never stolen anything in my life. I won't cause any trouble!" "That's your sister, right?" he sneered, jerking his head toward Pathy. "You expect me to believe she'd lie about that?" "We don't hire dishonest people. Now beat it!" he barked, giving me a hard shove. I stumbled backward, losing my balance, and fell straight into Pathy’s arms. She held me steady. A triumphant smile played on her lips as she pressed a phone into my hand. "See? You can't survive anywhere else. The only place for you is with me." "Patrick, we're family. The path I've made for you is the only one that works." She reached up and ruffled my messy hair, not even flinching at the dust that came off on her hand. Her smile was genuine now as she took my arm. "Come on. Let's go home. And don't you ever make me look for you again." I didn't move. She turned, confused by my resistance. Her eyes met mine, and she saw the absolute, glacial coldness there. "Pathy," I said, my voice dangerously quiet. "What do I have to do for you to just let me go?" She didn't seem to grasp that she'd done anything wrong. Her smile vanished. "What are you talking about, 'let you go'? Haven't I been good to you?" "I've spent the last three weeks searching for you! I've ignored my company, do you know how much money I've lost?" Without another word, she yanked me toward her car. I was bundled inside, taken back to that house one more time. On the way, she took a call, and after dropping me off, she raced to her office, ordering Ethan to make sure I didn't run off again. The moment she was gone, Ethan's face transformed. "You idiot!" he sneered. "I can't believe she brought you back again. After all that, she still cares about you?" I fought the urge to punch him, my voice tight with a rage I’d held in for three years. "Why? Why did you frame me? I was always decent to you, wasn't I?" He let out a cold laugh, his eyes filled with pure malice. "Because you told Pathy to stop spending money on me." "She made it perfectly clear years ago. The company goes to you. Not me." "You have this amazing sister to fall back on, and you couldn't even stand to see her spend a little money on me," he spat. "Why should you have everything?" My hands clenched into fists. "Do you have any idea how she earned that money? She never went to college. The executives at her company look down on her. She has to work twice as hard just to stay afloat." "Those old sharks force her into business dinners, and she has to drink until she's puking blood! And you? You ask for millions like it's nothing. She's my sister, of course I care! What's wrong with asking her to spend less on you?" "So what? It's not like she's earning it for me," Ethan scoffed, admiring his expensive sneakers. "If she drinks herself to death, I still get nothing. The only way I get a piece of the pie is if you're out of the picture." I stared at him, a chill spreading through my entire body. I always thought he framed me because he wanted Pathy all to himself. I never imagined it was only ever about the money. "You're a real snake," I bit out, heading for my room. He laughed behind me. "I framed you once, I can do it again. And again." "Just wait, Patrick," he called out. "I'll get you thrown out of here for good!"