I set down my fork and fled in a hurry. The happiness between the two of them felt like an arrow—cold and precise—aimed straight at me.

When news came of our parents' deaths, Bobby had held me close and promised, "Bella, don't worry. I'll protect you for the rest of your life. I'll take Mom and Dad's place. I'll walk you down the aisle someday."

But after Audrey came into our home, I became a girl without a family.

I spent the night at the hospital and didn't return. Not a single message showed up on my phone—not a word of concern from Bobby. He didn't care.

Before we left, the director reminded us to say goodbye to our families. If there were things we couldn't say out loud, we could write a farewell letter instead.

After I wrapped up the paperwork at the hospital, I had to head back home to pack a few documents and clothes.

In my room, I held my housekeeper, Marie—the woman who had raised me—and told her goodbye.

She was the only one who knew I was leaving the country on a rescue mission.

"Bella, do you really have to go?" she asked. "If something happens to you too, what's Bobby supposed to do, all alone…"

I gave a wry smile. He probably wouldn't care anyway.

"It's okay, Marie. He still has Audrey."

As I whispered those words to her, trying to ease her worry, Audrey barged into the room.

"Bella, these medals in your suitcase—Bobby said he's giving them to me."

Those medals were awarded posthumously to my parents. They was the only thing that gave me strength.

"Audrey, this was given after our parents died. I'm about to leave, and I want to bring it with me. It's like having them by my side."

I quickly snatched the medals into my hands. I knew her—once she had her eye on something, she wouldn't stop until she had it.

"Why are you being so tense? We share the same parents now. Let me have them, okay? Mom and Dad gave their lives for me. This is the only way I can remember them."

She mentioned my parents' deaths, but there was no sorrow in her voice, not even a trace. It was clear—what my parents gave their lives for was nothing more than a cold-blooded creature.

"Audrey, stop it! That's my parents' keepsake!"

Her behavior made my voice rise in spite of myself. All these years, she'd never once paid respects to my parents.

Bobby had suggested taking her, but Audrey had said, "Bobby, every time I think of them, I remember their burned-up bodies. It's terrifying."

Afraid she'd live in the past, Bobby never brought it up again.

But those bodies she found so disgusting—they were the people I loved most.

Audrey's own birth parents had died in that same fire. And yet, every October, I'd see her sneaking off to the cemetery, placing flowers at their grave.

She wasn't afraid of corpses. She just never saw my family as anything more than a place to feed off of.

I clutched those two medals tightly, my teeth grinding so hard I could hear it.

"Audrey, you can have everything else. Even Bobby. But not the medals."

I hadn't wanted to stir up more conflict before leaving, but this—this was something I wouldn't budge on.

Marie, seeing the tension boil over, quickly stepped in to stop her. "Audrey, that's all Bella has left of her parents. Let her have it."

The moment someone spoke up for me, Audrey bristled, every thorn on full display.

"What's that supposed to mean, Marie? Are you saying I'm not part of this family? Bobby and I are going to Cranburn, and bringing the medals is perfectly reasonable."

Her eyes were rimmed red. Then came the tears. The drama. The same act every time.

And, like always, Bobby fell for it.

The moment he heard her crying, he rushed in. "Bella, what did you do to Audrey this time?! Look how upset she is!"

Audrey collapsed into his arms, sobbing so hard she could barely breathe. There was no room left for my explanation. He held her close, whispering comfort.

"Bobby, I just wanted to…"

My words had barely formed when Bobby cut me off. "That's enough. I don't want to hear any of your excuses. Apologize to Audrey. Now."

My fingernails dug deep into my palms, the sharp sting of pain barely registering as blood stained the medals red.

"I didn't do anything wrong. I just wanted to take Mom and Dad's medals with me on this mission. It was Audrey who tried to take them from me."

Bobby's eyes flicked to the drops of blood hitting the floor, his brows tightening. For a moment, I thought he might finally be on my side.

But then Audrey spoke.

"Bobby, aren't we going to Cranburn? I just thought… since that's where Mom and Dad fell in love, I wanted to bring the medals to witness it too."

Her voice was soft, her words carefully chosen. And just like that, whatever flicker of doubt Bobby had was gone.

"Bella, I don't think Audrey's wrong here. Today marks thirty years since Mom and Dad got together. Let her have the medals."

I said nothing. The medals remained tight in my grasp. I knew the moment I let them go, I'd never see them again.

Marie, who had seen enough, stepped forward to speak on my behalf.

"Bobby, Bella's going far away on this assignment. Master Ross used to say that medals would protect Bella. Let her take them."

Her words didn't soothe anything. If anything, they poured oil onto the fire.

"Bella, just admit you're petty if you are. Don't hide behind this 'dangerous mission' excuse. You're a doctor. What kind of danger could you possibly face?"

He stormed over, prying my fingers open one by one, uncaring of the blood that flowed freely from the cuts on my palm.

"If you're packing your things, then do it properly. Get out of this house. Now. How did our family end up with a daughter as narrow-minded as you?"

The blood smeared across my suitcase as I dragged it out. I didn't look back. I didn't respond. I had no words left.

'Bobby, I've given up on your love. Let Audrey take my place. Let her walk beside you for the rest of your life,' I thought bitterly.

Just as I reached the front door, Adam ran up from his car, panting.

"Bella, what happened to you?"

Marie quickly filled him in, and the anger on his face was instant.

"That damn Audrey—what right does she have to carry Mr. Ross's medal?"

He handed me a folder. Just as I suspected, everything was in there.

I had barely closed the file when Adam grabbed my wrist, ready to storm back in.

"Bobby, do you even realize that Audrey is the last person who deserves to be in this family? All these years, you've been feeding a wolf, and now you're turning on your own sister!"

Bobby's fury exploded. Without hesitation, he raised his hand to strike Adam.

"Don't!" I rushed forward and took the hit in Adam's place.

My face stung, swelling instantly. The outline of five fingers was stark against my skin.

"Bella, are you okay?"

Bobby stood frozen. I gave Adam a small shake of the head, hinting to him not to say anything.

"Take me away," I said softly.

From behind Bobby, Audrey peeked out, holding the medals high like a trophy, basking in her victory.

I didn't get the medals.

I didn't win.

All I could do was run.

'Mom. Dad. Your little girl has no one left to protect her,' I thought miserably.

Bobby stood at the door, watching silently as I loaded my suitcase into the car.

His lips moved, forming words I couldn't quite hear.

"Bella, are you really doing this again? Running away every time something doesn't go your way? If you leave now, don't expect me to forgive you next time."

'But Bobby, there won't be a next time.'