Sean had known for a long time that Sandy was behind Tavon''s stroke-he''d never doubted it for a second.


    But finding out Sandy was the reason Ashley jumped to her death? That hit him like a punch to the gut.


    "No. No way, Dad. Sandy couldn''t do something like that. That was Mom. Mom jumped because of you—"


    "Don''t give me that," Tavon cut him off, his voice sharp with anger. "You know your mother. She was tough as nails her whole life. You really think she''d just end it like that?"


    Sean''s mind spun. It wasn''t suicide. It was a fall. And Sandy was mixed up in it.


    He remembered Sandy poisoning Tavon, and suddenly, he wasn''t so sure of anything anymore.


    "Why would she do that?" Sean pressed. "I get why she''d go after you, but Mom? What was the point?"


    "Oh, so it''s fine if she tries to kill me?" Tavon''s eyes narrowed. "Sean, how long have you known?"


    “I..... I.....” Sean stammered, guilt all over his face.


    Tavon shook his head, his disappointment almost physical. His hands trembled. "You really are my son, huh?"


    "Dad, no, I—That''s not what I—" Sean''s words fell apart.


    Tavon waved him off, grief settling over him like a heavy nket. The kids he''d once been so proud of how had things ended up like this?


    Sean''s reaction was thest straw.


    "From now on, you and your sister can do whatever you want. I''m done. Just pretend I''m not here anymore," Tavon said quietly.


    The only reason he''d stuck around was because he thought he could count on Sean. Now, with that gone, he had nothing keeping him.


    That night, Tavon packed his things and left. Sean didn''t even manage to stop him.


    Sean called Sandy in a panic, but by the time she got home, Tavon was already gone.


    "Sean, what happened? Where''s Dad? It''s the middle of the night-where could he have gone?"


    Sean sat slumped on the couch, staring at his sweet-faced sister, still struggling to believe any of this was real.


    "Sandy, where were you the night Mom died? Really?"


    Sandy''s eyes darted away and she hesitated. "Why are you asking me that now? I was out, okay? Drank too much, fell asleep in the car..."


    "You''re lying." Sean''s voice was harsh. "You were here, weren''t you? Mom didn''t jump-she fell. You pushed her, didn''t you? Why, Sandy? Why would you do that?"


    "Who told you that?" Sandy shot back, still refusing to admit it. "You''re crazy. Why would I ever do something like that? She was our mom."


    "Exactly! She was your mom! How could you?" Sean''s anger finally boiled over. "You poisoned Dad, you poisoned Herman, and now this. Are we not your family?"


    Sean''s heart ached.


    Sandy could see it was useless to keep pretending. She sank onto the couch and went quiet.


    Sean grabbed her arm, voice cracking. "Sandy, what happened to you? We''re your family. Your real family."


    "They wanted me dead first!" Sandy snapped, tearing her arm away. Her sweet-girl act vanished, reced by raw anger and bitterness. "They knew your bone marrow could save me, but they just let me rot


    “That''s it? That''s why you hurt Mom and Dad?" Sean couldn''t believe what he was hearing.


    "They wouldn''t save me-so why did


    they even bother having me?" Sandy''s voice was thick with hate. spent most of my life in hospitals Other kids had parents holding their hands, healthy bodies, trips to theme parks, McDonald''s for dinner. And me? I was alone, stuck ina hospital bed. How many times did they even visit me?"


    "Mom and Dad were busy..."


    "Right. Busy." Sandy''s voice shook as she got louder. "Dad was always plotting against Grandpa and ет Grandma, trying to pull the Mortons out from under the Stanton family''s control. Mom was busy ying mahjong, showing off to her friends, finding the best schools for you, bragging about you. And me? They just left me in the hospital to fend for myself."


    For the first time, Sean saw just how deep Sandy''s resentment ran.