CHAPTER 3

Evelyn

I sighed, leaning back against the chair, staring right back at my dear sister. Why couldn't she just…chill? We were basically all one another had left—my parents were never around, but we still had each other. I refused to think there was no salvaging our relationship. Nathan groaned, running his hands over his face.

Nana looked defeated as well and I just couldn't understand. Why did everyone dread her? What she needed was someone to be there for her and show her that there was more to life than money.

“Are we all just going to sit here and wait for her to stop fuming or…?”

When I was met with silence, I scoffed, opening the car door. Both Nathan and Nana yelled after me, telling me to wait, but crazy, silly me, didn't listen. I'd have to talk to Hannah eventually, and her reaction wouldn't change no matter what, so why prolong it?

The dark-haired woman stared back at me with anger. Why couldn't she like me? I was her sister after all. It was as if I'd taken something from her, what that was, I never knew. It was clear to see the differences between us, even from a distance. She was “elegant” and “mature” while I was a “hot mess,” as she so sweetly put it.

She didn't bother smiling at me when I did, and she didn't wave back when I waved at her.

“You know, sis, you really should stop frowning so much,” I said loud enough so that she'd hear me. “You're only twenty-four, you may need to start on the Botox pretty soon if you keep it up.”

Yeah, I could basically see the smoke coming out of her ears. My attempt at a joke wasn’t well received.

“Come on Han, are you not happy to see me? It's been years,” I said, now standing directly in front of her. “If it makes you feel any better, I liked Florida better. It was warmer…although I'm not sure which is colder here…the weather or your heart.”

I smirked, extending my arms to the sister who detested me and hugged her. Needless to say, the hug wasn't returned.

“It's too easy to tease you, Han.”

“There are some rules we should discuss before you even step foot into this house,” Hannah said. She was going back to her business persona as if this was some type of transaction.

I glanced back at Nathan and Nana who still waited in the car. “Ugh, they're terrified of you. Let's get them inside and then you can bore me to death with your rules.”

Before she had a chance to respond, I ran back to the car and knocked on the window. Nathan opened the door, a frown etched on his face. “You can stop shitting your pants, I've controlled the beast.”

“Evelyn Marie Carson, watch your language!” Nana scolded from the back. Unable to hide my grin, I looked away, not without missing the grin that formed on Nathan's face as well.

“Sorry,” I mumbled. “Let’s go. She's ready to go over the rules.”

I helped Nana out of the car, Nathan following behind us. Hannah was probably waiting for us already in her office to intimidate me. Tension surrounded us, even as we walked inside the house. Tension that didn't fit Nathan and that sure as hell didn't belong on Nana either.

“I'm going to wait out here,” Nana said, pointing to a sofa.

Nathan nodded.

“You sure you don't want to wait out here too?” I asked, nudging him with my elbow.

“Nope. I'll go with you.”

“I'm not scared of her, you know?”

“Oh. I know,” he said. Though I couldn't see him, I sensed the smirk on his face.

Finally, we were at my sister’s office. I felt like a kid about to be punished at the principal's office. She was pacing the room, her hair now up in a ponytail, but with a death stare plastered on her face.

The office was so dull…so cold.

I shivered despite still wearing my coat, watching how Nathan sat on a sofa without sparing a single glance towards his wife. I knew eventually I'd learn about their problems, but the fact that I was going to live in a place where husband and wife could obviously not get along sounded like a nightmare.

“I know I was playing with the whole Botox thing but if you keep doing that—”

“Not the time, Evelyn. Sit down and listen.”