Chapter 10: Mistakes and Warnings
On the bus, I kept reading Natalie’s messages:
[Mom will be back next week. Then I’ll tell her I want to go back to private school and then study abroad.]
[We’ve been deskmates for three years, so we have some fate. If you keep all my high school experiences a secret, I’ll give you hush money before I leave.]
In the middle of the night, she sent a photo of the city lights from the penthouse:
[Jealous? Natalie, this is a mansion you’ll never reach.]
The last two messages were from five minutes ago:
[The princess has transferred you $15.]
[Natalie, I just saw you waiting for the bus. Did your mom leave you for your sister again? So pitiful. Hurry and take a rideshare to school. I’m waiting for you in the classroom.]
I accepted the money and shut off the screen.
Natalie seemed to be loving her new life as “Aubrey.” She could handle the tasteless meals, the endless tutoring, and the empty house with no warmth.
She really was the perfect daughter my mom always wanted.
Wait…
Suddenly, I realized something. I gripped my phone tight, my palm sweating.
Natalie made three fatal mistakes.