Part 1The Quiet Girl from Ward S

I hit the "golden daughter," so my brothers committed me to a psychiatric hospital.

When I was finally released, I had become unnaturally obedient.

If my brothers told me to go east, I wouldn't dare head west.

But why did the fake daughter suddenly become even more "well-behaved" than me?

Dr. Miller said that a professional patient never strikes back unless the other person hits first. Those are the rules of the ward.

Oh?

Please. Getting someone to swing first is the easiest game in the world.

I have a thousand ways to make them do it.

* * *

The day my brother, Silas, came to pick me up from the asylum, I was wearing a Peter Pan collar blouse and denim overalls. My hands were neatly folded in front of me, my eyes downcast. The old, arrogant fire was gone.

Silas looked me up and down, finally satisfied.

"Do you understand what you did wrong?"

I nodded obediently and recited the lines Dr. Miller taught me.

"I’m sorry, Silas. I was jealous of Brianna. That’s why I hired those guys to scare her. I was wrong. I’ll never do it again."

The perfect amount of grievance, the perfect hint of remorse. Tears brimmed in my eyes but didn't fall—a pose I had practiced by watching Brianna for a long time.

It worked. Silas believed me.

He reached out his noble hand and gave my head a condescending pat.

"Good. If you hadn't crossed the line so badly, Arthur wouldn't have locked you away. From now on, try to get along with Brianna."

I mimicked Brianna’s habit of nuzzling into his palm.

Silas actually smiled.

No one noticed the Director of the asylum, Dr. Lowery, shuddering violently behind us. I flicked a glance at him, and cold sweat instantly beaded on his forehead.

"Mr. Sterling, if there’s nothing else, I’ll leave you to your family reunion."

Silas nodded. "You did well. The Sterling Group’s donation will be in your account by morning."

"Th-thank you!" Lowery stammered and bolted.

"The Director is quite fast on his feet, isn't he?" I murmured.

Thump.

Lowery tripped over nothing. Then, under Silas’s confused gaze, he scrambled up and ran like a ghost was chasing him.

"Silas, can I go home now?"

Seeing my submissive state, he nodded. But he didn't forget a final warning: "If you bully Brianna again, even if Arthur doesn't send you back, I will!"

"Okay," I whispered.