I Died to End Their Lie novel · Chapter 4 of 24

Chapter 4: Briar Hollow

I went to my room and put three shirts and a toothbrush in my backpack.

Dad's assistant followed me in and stood in the doorway.

"Hurry up," he said. "They have a long way to go."

He picked my backpack up off the bed, unzipped it and looked through it.

He took out my wallet, checked it, and put it back.

He didn't look under the mattress.

I was glad, and I kept my eyes on the floor.

"Come on," he said. "Did you really think you were some rich family's little prince?"

I followed him back to the living room.

The farmer and his wife were already standing by the door.

Dad stayed on the sofa with his back to me and a newspaper open on his knee.

He didn't turn around.

"Jesse," Mom said.

She stood in the hall with Cade beside her, one hand tucked in the crook of his arm.

"When you're out there, behave yourself," she said. "Do what they tell you and don't be entitled. Once you've thought it over, call us. We'll come and get you."

I stopped and looked at her.

Behind her on the wall hung the big family portrait they'd had taken when Cade turned ten.

Dad stood in the middle of it with his hand on Cade's shoulder, and Mom was smiling in a blue dress.

I wasn't in it.

I never had been.

"I understand," I said.

I opened the front door.

"I won't be calling you."

I walked out into the cold morning and didn't look back.

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