“Two million dollars,” Mr. Harrison repeated, looking at Father with disgust. “The fund we set up for her recovery.”

“It was used for the family,” Father insisted, turning to Mr. Harrison. “The investments failed in 2012. We had to maintain our standing.”

“You maintained your standing by stealing my skin,” I said.

Chloe looked down at her designer heels, then back at me.

“Maya, I didn’t know,” she sobbed. “I swear I didn’t know.”

“I know you didn’t,” I said, my voice softening just a fraction. “They made sure of that. They wanted you to be perfect so you could represent the Vance name.”

“Every time I went to the hospital for a consult, they told me the budget was tight,” I continued. “They told me the skin grafts were too risky.”

I looked at Mother, whose eyes were fixed on the flagstone patio.

“But the budget wasn’t tight when Chloe needed a new portfolio for her agency in Milan,” I said.

“We did it for both of you,” Mother wept, her shoulders shaking. “If Chloe succeeded, we all succeeded. We were going to pay it back.”