She'd scored 535, five points above mine, and walked away with an oceanfront villa and a private island, both gifts from our father.
And because I lost that bet,
our father threw me out of the house.
Cut my mother and me off without a cent.
For years I'd wondered. Why then? No accidents any other day of my life, but on the morning of the exam, a collision out of nowhere.
I'd even blamed my own bad luck.
All of it. Every last bit of it. Landon's doing.
"Mommy…"
My five-year-old son, Ryan Abbott, tore his hand free from mine and ran toward Leonora, his face lit up with excitement.
The commotion drew their attention.
Leonora eased Landon aside, unhurried, and tilted her head at me. "Well. What a coincidence, sis."
Landon's body locked. He spun around.
He saw me.
Shock first, then panic, then something I couldn't read at all.
"Dora."
He started toward me. "How much did you hear?"
I didn't look at him. I just wanted to take Ryan and go.
But the next second.
Ryan ran straight to Leonora and wrapped his arms around her leg. "Mommy, hold me…"
His voice was small, but it hit my skull like a nail hammered in.
I couldn't move.