Chapter 7 - A Sister's ChoiceAfter the trial, Lila vanished from the public eye. She deleted her social media accounts, moved out of the estate, and refused to answer my calls.
I knew she was hurting, but she had to find her own path away from our parents' toxic influence.
Six months after the verdict, I received a letter in the mail. It was a simple, hand-written note from a small town in Oregon.
Nora, I’m working at a local animal shelter here. It’s quiet. No cameras, no crowns, no fake smiles. I’m finally learning who I am without Mom and Dad telling me who to be. I saw your new skincare campaign on a billboard last week. You look beautiful. I’m so sorry for what I did. I hope one day you can forgive me. Love, Lila.
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I held the letter to my chest, a tear slipping down my cheek. For the first time in ten years, I felt like I had my sister back.
I booked a flight to Oregon the next morning.
Related Stories
Chapter 8 - The Reunion in the RainThe small town of Astoria, Oregon, was rainy and cold, a stark contrast to the sunny beaches of our family’s estate.
Chapter 9 - The New FoundationLila returned to the coast with me, not as a spokeswoman or an influencer, but as my partner.
Chapter 10 - The Balanced LedgerTen years after the fire, on our twenty-eighth birthday, Lila and I stood on the deck of the rebuilt pool house.
