Chapter 1
I died saving my brother from a flash flood.
Well, almost died.
Six years later. I crawled out of some backwoods mountain town with my memory intact and one goal: find my real family.
Mom fainted from joy. My brother Camden and best friend Jaxon were crying like babies, so happy to have me back.
They even kicked out their precious replacement daughter for me.
How sweet, right?
Big mistake.
The second I had beef with their fake princess, guess what happened?
Camden and Jaxon threw me down the fucking stairs.
While I was bleeding out, I heard them talking:
“Sometimes I wish she’d just stayed dead.”
Hearing that, I slowly opened my eyes and looked around confused: “Sorry… do I know you people?”
They wanted me gone?
Fine. Let’s hit the RESET button.
But here’s the thing they don’t know:
I didn’t come back for their love.
What I wanted was simple:
A ticket out of poverty.
An hour later, the doctor was staring at my test results, looking puzzled: “Yeah, so… this bump on the head? Shouldn’t make her forget stuff,
but…”
“Skylar! The doctor says you’re FINE, you hear me? Cut the bullshit!”
Before the doc could finish, Camden was already up in my face, going ballistic.
“Six years ago you were nothing but trouble, now you waltz back in here and attack Willow–what, you gonna keep stirring up shit till you destroy us all?”
Jaxon was shooting daggers at me too: “Sky, enough already. Say sorry to Willow and we’ll call it even.”
Willow was covering this tiny scratch on her cheek, smirking at me like she’d won the lottery.
I stared her down hard.
Willow jumped behind Mrs. Hartwell like I was gonna murder her.
Mrs. Hartwell gave me this look like I was trash.
10.24
Sorry I’m Not Here to Dlay Family I’m the Doal Hairass Here to Wreck the Game!
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Chapter 1
Camden lost his shit: “Skylar, what the FUCK is wrong with you?”
I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, no–I’m Rivers, not Hartwell, thanks.”
Camden went nuclear: “Oh, so you’re gonna keep playing this game?”
The doctor, who everyone had been ignoring, finally snapped: “Whoa, whoa, Mr. Hartwell–chill out and let me finish!”
The doctor jabbed at the dark spot on the scan, rushing to get it out before Camden lost his shit again:
“Look, see this right here? She’s got old blood clots in her brain from what looks like years ago. So getting smacked around again? Yeah, it could totally scramble her short–term memory. Happens all the time.”
Dead silence.
Camden, who’d been losing his mind two seconds ago, froze up. Ilis face went through about ten emotions–embarrassment, guilt… you name it.
Hah.
Finally, Harrison Hartwell, being the head of the family, finally said something: “Wait, so she doesn’t remember us? Like, at all?”
Doc nodded awkwardly: “That’s… that’s possible, yeah.”
Mrs. Hartwell’s knees nearly gave out. She stumbled over and grabbed my hands, tears streaming: “Sky, baby, you don’t remember Mommy?”
I let her clutch my hands, studying her ugly–crying face.
When she saw me looking, hope lit up her eyes: “Skylar, sweetie, are you remembering something?”
I blinked, looking totally lost: “Um… ma’am? Do I know you?”
That “ma’am” hit her like a truck. She started shaking her head, sobbing harder.
Interesting.
Now we’re back to square one like they wanted.
Mrs. Hartwell can finally parade around her perfect princess Willow without worrying about trailer–trash me embarrassing her at country club
brunches.
So why’s she losing her shit?
I just watched her until she got too uncomfortable to keep the waterworks going.
Then I turned my head, confused: “Are you… someone important? Like, should I remember you?”
“Of course you should!”
Her eyes filled up again: “Don’t you remember anything? I’m your-”
“Foster mom!”
mink
