Third Return And I Am Done

This was the third time Id been welcomed back into the Mercer empire, and frankly, I was over it. The fire in my gut had burned out, replaced by a cold, practical numbness.

When Brianna tripped and tumbled down the grand marble staircase, I didn't wait for the inevitable trial. Before the echoes of her staged sob could even fade, I stepped forward and held out my metaphorical wrists.

"I did it. I pushed her. Go ahead, ground me, send me awaywhatever makes you feel better."

The silence that followed was thick with the familys collective disappointment. I heard the familiar whispers: If only Brianna were the one related to us by blood. I didn't flinch. I just turned on my heel and walked away.

I was done fighting. I was done screaming into the void of their favoritism. But the strange thing about the Mercers was that as soon as I stopped caring, they started acting like I was the one hurting them.

"Why are you acting like a stranger in your own home?" my mother asked, her eyes rimmed with theatrical red.

My oldest brother, Harrison, tightened his jaw, his brow furrowed in that classic 'stern CEO' look. "Is this some new tactic to make us feel guilty, Madeline?"

Then there was Tyler, the brother who hated me most. He let out a sharp, jagged laugh. "Whats the angle this time, Maddie? What are you plotting?"

I wasn't plotting anything.

In the six months since theyd "found" me, Id been kicked out twice. Id tasted the bitterness of the gutter and the exhaustion of back-breaking labor. Id learned my lesson.

Why beg for scraps of love from people who didn't have any to give?

Instead, I was going to squeeze this lifestyle for every drop it was worth. The elite education, the high-end tutors, the networking. As for the "Mercer family love"?

It wasn't even worth the price of the air they used to talk about it.

This was the third time Id moved back into the Mercer estate.

I had officially entered my "I dont give a damn" era.

When Brianna fell, I intercepted the accusations before they could even leave their mouths. "Yeah, I did it. My fault. Sentence me already."

Harrison, the first one to burst out of his study, froze. He looked at me, then back at the stairs.

"Why would I punish you for that? You were on the first floor. Brianna was on the second. You weren't even near her."

I blinked.

Right. Id spent too long back with my foster parentsthe Millers. Life there was a relentless cycle of waking up before dawn, scrubbing floors until midnight, and narrowly escaping being sold off to some local creep after they tried to force me to drop out of school.

When you live in survival mode for that long, your reflexes get a little... twitchy.

"Oh," I said, my voice flat and polite. "Muscle memory, I guess. My bad."

Harrison stared at me, speechless. He didn't launch into his usual lecture about 'decorum' or 'sisterly bonds.' I figured Id ruined his rhythm by confessing too fast, so I tried to be helpful.

"Do you want to start the lecture over? I can go stand in the corner if it helps the process."

His frown deepened, his lips thinning into a hard line, but he stayed silent. When it became clear he wasn't going to say anything, I shrugged and turned to leave.

Thats when Tyler made his grand entrance.

He looked at me, then at Brianna clutching her ankle, and his temper hit boiling point instantly. "Madeline! Youve been back for five minutes and youre already bullying her?"

He marched toward me, pointing a finger in my face. "Haven't you learned a damn thing? You want to be tossed out on the street again? Is that it?"

I felt the blood drain from my facea lingering ghost of the old fear. I looked at Harrison, but he averted his eyes, refusing to explain that I hadn't been near the stairs.

Our mother rushed past me, ignoring my existence entirely to scoop Brianna into her arms.

I felt a ghost of a smile touch my lips. "Youre right," I said, my voice devoid of emotion. "Its my fault. I shouldn't have been standing near the light. I probably cast a shadow that dazzled her eyes and made the poor, precious girl lose her footing."

Tyler choked on his next insult. "What is wrong with your attitude!"

"Go to your room and think about what youve done!" My fathers roar echoed from the landing above.

"Understood," I said.

No arguing. No crying. No pleading my case.

Every time Id tried to defend myself in the past, it only ended in more pain. My mother looked up, startled by my lack of drama. She looked like she wanted to say something, but Brianna let out a soft, melodic whimper.

"Oh, my sweet girl," Mom cooed, turning back to her. "Where does it hurt? Let Mommy see... Honestly, Madeline, why must you always be so lurking? You know how sensitive Brianna is."

There it was.

If people love you, they find reasons to justify your existence. If they don't, even your silence is a provocation.

I didn't stay to watch the rest of the performance. I went to my room, shut the door, and turned the lock.

I lay on my bed, staring at the intricate crown molding on the ceiling. Outside, I could hear the muffled sounds of laughter and pampered concern.

I didn't fit here. I never would. Not when I was screaming for attention, and certainly not now that I was fading into the background.

I sat up, wiped a stray thought from my mind, and pulled out my SAT prep books.

If you cant join the circle, stop trying to break the door down.

While they were playing 'Happy Family' downstairs, I was going to out-study, out-work, and out-hustle every single one of them. You guys enjoy the party; Im busy building an exit strategy.

The first time I stepped into the Mercer mansion, I felt like a glitch in a high-definition movie.

I was wearing scuffed sneakers and a faded hoodie, my heart hammering against my ribs. Across from me stood Brianna, draped in soft pink silk, flanked by Harrison and Tyler like she was a royal being guarded by her knights.

They didn't look at me with joy. Especially Tyler.

He stepped in front of Brianna, his eyes narrowing as if I were a common thief coming to snatch his favorite toy.

Back then, I couldn't wrap my head around it. I was the one with their blood in my veins. I was the sister they had lost. Brianna was the one who had lived my life, stolen my years of comfort.

But no one saw it that way.

Brianna was "perfect." She played the cello, excelled at ballet, and had the kind of effortless grace that only comes from never having been hungry. Who wouldn't prefer the polished diamond over the jagged rock?

Dinner was always a highlight reel of her achievements.

"Brianna won first chair!"

"Brianna was invited to the debutante planning committee!"

"Brianna placed in the top of her class! Shes so gifted."

No one looked at the ugly duckling at the end of the table. Even my mother, who had been so emotional when the DNA test first came back, fell into the rhythm of Brianna-first.

Shed serve Briannas favorite dishes. Shed laugh at Briannas jokes. When they went shopping on Fifth Avenue, shed gravitate toward colors that suited Briannas complexion, not mine.

I realized quickly that I couldn't compete with Brianna's "charm." I didn't have the training or the pedigree. All I had was my brain.

So, I studied. I survived on three hours of sleep, adapting to the grueling standards of their private prep school.

When finals came, I placed in the top ten. It wasn't the number one spot I used to hold back in the rural district, but in this cutthroat environment, it was a miracle.

Finally, I had something better than Brianna.

I remember clutching my report card, my palms sweating. I imagined the pride in my parents' eyes. I imagined Tyler finally acknowledging that I belonged.

But there was no praise. Only an interrogation.

It started with a "well-meaning" comment from Brianna: "Madeline is so amazing. Everyone said that physics exam was impossible, and she barely spent a month in our curriculum. Its almost... unbelievable. People are saying she must have had the answers beforehand."

They didn't even hesitate. They couldn't believe the "rural girl" could outsmart their golden child.

My father slapped me.

My mother pulled Brianna away as if my "dishonesty" were contagious. "Madeline, you can fail," she whispered, looking heartbroken. "But a Mercer does not cheat."

That was the first time they sent me back to the Millers. For "lack of character."

The second time I was brought back, I learned to keep my mouth shut. Until the night of the Charity Gala.

Brianna accused me of stealing a diamond tennis bracelet. Id seen the trap coming and caught it on my phoneproof that she had slipped it into my bag herself.

I thought Id won. I thought Id shown them the truth.

Instead, my father dragged me into his study. His first words weren't an apology. They were: "Do you have any idea how much embarrassment you caused this family tonight?"

I stared at him, stunned.

"Even if Brianna made a mistake, you should have handled it privately. You didn't have to humiliate her in front of our guests," he said, rubbing his temples.

"But she lied... she tried to frame me..." I stammered.

My mother slapped me then. "Madeline, why must you always try to tear her down?"

They didn't look at me with guilt. They looked at me with exhaustion.

So, I was exiled a second time. For "not being a team player." For "failing to see the big picture."

The next morning, I stepped out of the house with my backpack slung over one shoulder.

Harrisons sleek black Audi was idling in the driveway. He and Tyler were already inside.

A second later, Brianna darted past me, her hair perfectly curled, and hopped into the back seat.

I stopped. Usually, Harrison only drove Brianna. I was supposed to wait for the family driver to take me in the SUV.

But Harrison didn't pull away. I could feel his gaze on me through the tinted glass. I adjusted my bag and stared at the pavement, pretending I didn't notice.

"Harrison, come on! Im going to be late for rehearsal!" Briannas voice drifted out through the cracked window.

Harrison grunted, then called out: "Are you getting in or not?"

I looked up, meeting his eyes in the side mirror. I glanced at Brianna, who was pouting, and shook my head. "No thanks. Ill wait for the driver."

When Id first come back this time, Id tried to ride with them. That night, Brianna had broken out in a "stress rash," claiming the car felt "unclean." The look my parents gave me was enough. They thought I was literally 'dirty.'

Harrison paused. "Get in. The driver is off today."

I froze. Off? No one told me.

I caught sight of Tyler and Brianna in the car, stifling smirks. Theyd known. Theyd wanted me to stand out here like an idiot waiting for a car that wasn't coming.

The familiar sting of exclusion hit me, but I pushed it down. I was over it.

"Actually, I think Ill take the bus. I could use the walk," I said with a polite smile.

Harrisons brow furrowed.

From the passenger seat, Tyler sneered. "Let her go, Harrison. Shes used to roughing it. Why bother with someone whod rather be a martyr?"

"Hurry up, Harry! I have a solo today!" Brianna whined.

Harrison shifted into gear and pulled away.

"You shouldn't waste your breath on someone so ungrateful," I heard Tylers voice fading as the car sped down the long driveway. I caught a snippet of his laugh: "Walking to the bus stop? Thats a three-mile hike down the hill. Let the peasant sweat, haha..."

I rolled my eyes.

I walked straight to the garage and pulled out the beat-up mountain bike Id brought back from the Millers.

I wasn't a martyr. I just wasn't a fool.

When I reached the school gates, I hesitated for a second. The elite atmosphere of St. Judes Academy always felt like a suffocating cloud of old money.

"Well, if it isn't the ghost of Mercer past!"

I didn't even have to turn around. Nate, the youngest son of the local tech mogul, was leaning against a locker, a smirk playing on his lips. "I heard you got shipped off again. What happened? Did you forget which fork to use?"

Beside him, Sophiethe daughter of a jewelry tycoonshoved him hard. "Shut it, Nate. Youre such a prick."

Sophie was the closest thing I had to a friend. She was blunt, wealthy, and didn't give a damn about social hierarchies.

"Maddie, seriously," she whispered, leaning in. "Just move into my guest house. My mom has been wanting a second daughter who actually has a brain. That 'Stepford Sister' of yours is driving everyone insane."

I laughed, but didn't commit.

"Hey, Maddie! You still taking commissions? Ive got three essays and a lab report. Name your price."

A rounder guy, Becca, squeezed through the crowd, her eyes practically sparkling. Her family owned a massive restaurant franchise. This was a school for the one percentkids who were brilliant at networking but hated the actual grunt work of being a student.

For them, homework was a chore. For me, it was a revenue stream.

The teachers knew I did it. As long as I wasn't literally taking their exams for them, they turned a blind eye because my work was better than the kids could ever produce.

"Im back in business," I said, nodding.

A small crowd gathered. Some were genuinely curious where Id been; others were placing bets on how long Id stay this time. Becca shooed them away.

It was funny, really. These spoiled, arrogant rich kids were infinitely more straightforward than my own family. You knew exactly where you stood with them.

Becca was especially good to me. When my lunch card was empty and I tried to hide in the library to drink water and suppress the hunger, shed drag me to the cafeteria and order enough food for five people.

One day, I asked her why she bothered.

Shed rubbed her chin thoughtfully and said, "I dont know. Maybe I just have a hero complex? Or maybe you just look like a stray kitten that needs a sandwich." She grinned. "Besides, my goal in life is to make sure none of my friends are thinner than me. Its a branding thing."

It was a ridiculous answer. It was perfect. It almost made me cry.

For the next week, the "driver" situation didn't change.

The Mercers seemed to have collectively forgotten I needed a way to get to school. I didn't remind them. I enjoyed the bike ride; it gave me time to clear the mental cobwebs.

The only downside was Tyler.

Harrison was busy with the firm, so Tyler had taken over driving Brianna. Whenever he saw me on the road, hed floor the accelerator, intentionally blowing a cloud of exhaust in my face.

"Move it, peasant! Youre blocking the view!" hed yell, while Brianna giggled in the passenger seat.

One afternoon, Id had enough.

As Tylers SUV slowed down to make the turn into our estate, he leaned out to shout another insult. I didn't even look at him. As he passed, I uncapped my water bottle and launched the entire contents through his open window.

"MADELINE, YOU LITTLE"

I squeezed the rest of the bottle into the car for good measure.

The screech of his brakes and Briannas high-pitched scream echoed down the road. It was the most satisfying sound Id heard all year.

When I finally reached the house, Brianna was waiting by the front door. She looked smug.

"Youre going to get kicked out again, Maddie. Number three? Or is it four? Ive lost count. You really are a glitch in the system, aren't you?"

I stopped and looked at her, my expression ice-cold. "What are you talking about?"

She just laughed and skipped inside.

I frowned, noticing Harrisons car in the driveway. He was leaning against the hood, watching me.

"Madeline," he called out.

I looked away, heading for the side entrance. I could feel his mood shiftingthe air around him turning heavy and dark. I tried to walk past him, but he stepped into my path.

"Don't give me that look. This family doesn't owe you anything," he said, his voice low. "If anything, you owe us for every second of luxury youve wasted."

I stopped. "Is that what you wanted to tell me? Or are you just rehearsing for the next time you discard me?"

I didn't wait for an answer. I brushed past him and opened the front door.

SLAP.

The blow was so sudden my head snapped to the side. My ears rang. The metallic taste of blood bloomed in my mouth.

"Down on your knees! Now!" my father bellowed.

I slowly turned my head, my vision blurred. The whole family was there.

Brianna was wearing a tiny, triumphant smile. Tyler looked like he was watching a premiere of his favorite movie. My mother was silent, her eyes fixed on the floor.

"What did I do?" I asked, my voice trembling but even.

My father grabbed a glass of water from the side table and hurled it at my feet. Shards of glass grazed my ankle. "You have the nerve to ask? Youre still pretending?"

"Dad, you know how she is," Tyler added, fueling the fire. "Shes a stone. You could throw her in the ocean and shed never soften. Just get rid of her. Shes a parasite. Shell never be one of us."

Brianna stepped forward, playing the peacemaker. "Dad, maybe she just doesn't know better? Growing up in that... environment... she probably has habits she cant break. Don't be too hard on her."

Her words were gasoline on the flames.

My fathers face was purple with rage. But before he could scream again, there was a loud THUD.

I had dropped to my knees.

Straight and stiff, right onto the hard marble floor.