Page 45 of Isabella and the Slipper

He pressed the brake but frowned. “Why? Delilah knows we left the game together.”

“I know. But she doesn’t know we spent the evening together. I might be able to get away with saying I walked home.”

He scowled. “I don’t care if your sister likes me. She’s blown it. I’d never go out with her now.”

Isabella bit her bottom lip, her eyes full of worry. “If she thinks we were together tonight, things won’t go well for me.”

“What does your mom say about all this?”

Isabella hesitated, fiddling with the hem of her blouse. “Delilah gets whatever she wants.”

A heaviness settled in his chest. “I’m sorry. I’ll tell Delilah I left the game and went home.”

“Thanks.”

He watched her climb out of the car and walk to the house. She didn’t go around to the balcony this time. She opened the front door and disappeared inside.

Isabella swallowed and entered her house. Best to get it over with. Elenore met her in the living room. Her eyes burned as she scowled at Isabella. “How could you do that to Delilah?” Delilah stood by the back wall, a look of triumph on her face.

“What did I do?” Isabella said. “I went with Delilah to the game, like she asked. She’s the one who dumped water on me and—”

“Enough!” Elenore yelled, grabbing Isabella’s arm in a vice grip. “I don’t want to hear your lies.”

“I’m not lying!” Isabella winced as Elenore’s grip tightened, cutting off the blood supply to her arm.

“You know it was an accident. How dare you tell Chase she did it on purpose? You will apologize to Delilah. Then you will spend the rest of the weekend working at the gallery. If you talk back to me, you will lose your phone as well.”

Isabella swallowed the lump in her throat. She’d do anything to get Elenore to let go of her arm. It felt like she was crushing her bone. “Yes, ma’am. I’m sorry, Delilah.”

Elenore shoved her toward the stairs, finally releasing her. “Now get out of my sight. I can’t believe you would try to steal your sister’s boyfriend right in front of her. Disgusting.”

Isabella ran up the steps and locked herself in her room. She threw herself onto the bed and let the tears fall. Tears for the stupid way she’d believed Delilah. Tears for the hope that she’d be anything other than a burden and a disappointment to Elenore. And finally, tears for having to reject Chase before he even asked her to the dance.

She sat up, blew her nose, and checked her arm. Angry red marks were forming. Her phone vibrated, and she pulled it out of her pocket.

My sister is back at the hospital.

She wiped her cheeks with a tissue.

What happened?

She’s getting worse. Doctors think it’s meningitis.

Isabella did a quick search on her phone and found out meningitis could cause death or severe disability.

Oh no. I’m so sorry.

She’s getting treatment, but it’s serious.

Are you at the hospital?

Just leaving now.

After a pause, he texted,I’m scared, Five.

Suddenly her problems didn’t seem so bad anymore. Her step-whatevers were horrible, but she wasn’t facing the death of a loved one. She was living in her father’s mansion. And in a year, she’d be able to go out on her own and make something of her life.

Hang in there.

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