My Sister’s Secret System Picked the Wrong Victim Chapter 07

My Sister’s Secret System Picked the Wrong Victim Chapter 07

The room fell silent again.

Uncle Mike sighed and sank back into his chair, all the fight gone out of him.

Aunt Linda dabbed at her eyes beside him.

Uncle Dan stared down at the table, his fingers trembling.

Mom stood there helplessly, glancing between Chelsea and me.

“Josie…”

She came over, her voice careful.

“Are you okay?”

I nodded.

“I’m fine.”

A few comments drifted by.

[Mom finally remembers Josie exists?]

[Bit late for that.]

[She only remembers to check on her once Chelsea is in trouble. Wow.]

Dad spoke up suddenly, his voice rough.

“Josie. Your money too? It’s gone?”

I nodded.

“The last few dollars I had. All gone.”

Dad let out a breath.

“Just a few dollars. That’s something, at least.”

More comments rolled in.

[Poor Josie. Even her last few dollars got taken.]

[At least the thirty grand is already safe with Grandma.]

[Is Dad actually feeling guilty right now?]

That was when Aunt Carol spoke up.

“Oh, right. Josie, you took the SAT at the same time as Chelsea, didn’t you? What did you end up

scoring?”

Everyone froze.

The comments spiked.

[Here it comes!]

[Finally, someone’s asking about Josie’s score!]

[This is about to be good.]

I kept my head down, my voice quiet.

“1550.”

The room went still for a beat.

“How much?” Uncle Mike’s eyes went wide.

“1550,” I repeated.

The comments exploded.

[YES!]

[Look at their faces!]

[Chelsea got a 1520, and the whole family threw a party. Josie got a 1550, and nobody even asked.]

Aunt Linda covered her mouth.

“That’s thirty points higher than Chelsea. Josie, why didn’t you say anything sooner?”

I just shook my head.

Aunt Linda turned to Mom and Dad, both of them standing there, visibly uncomfortable.

“You two are Josie’s parents too. Why has all the focus been on throwing Chelsea a party?”

Mom opened her mouth.

Nothing came out.

A hush of comments followed.

[Straight to the heart.]

[Has anyone in this family ever once asked about Josie’s score?]

[Chelsea’s score got framed on the wall. Josie kept hers locked inside her own chest.]

Dad lowered his head, his shoulders shaking slightly.

Uncle Mike snapped out of it and slammed the table.

“1550? That’s an outstanding score! We have a kid who could compete for the best schools in the country, and nobody thought to tell me?”

Uncle Dan got excited too.

“With grades and a score like that, you could be looking at serious financial aid.”

I nodded.

The room stirred all over again.

So did the comments.

[Finally. Her light can’t be hidden anymore.]

[Chelsea stole everyone’s money, but she could never steal Josie’s score.]

[This is what a real graduation gift looks like.]

Chelsea sat in the corner, listening to all of it, her face almost translucent.

She looked up and met my eyes.

There was hatred in them.

Resentment.

Underneath all of it, a deep, irreversible despair.

The last comments came through.

[Chelsea’s face right now. So satisfying.]

[She stole everyone’s money, but she could never steal Josie’s future.]

[Josie wins this round, clean.]

The detective walked over to Chelsea.

“Chelsea Bennett, we need you to come with us for further questioning.”

Chelsea stood, her legs shaking, but she didn’t fight it.

As she passed me, she stopped for a second, her lips moving, but nothing came out.

I watched her walk away.

I didn’t feel hatred.

I didn’t feel triumph either.

Just a quiet, settled kind of peace.