He looked at the Rolex on his wrist.

It was ten minutes past four.

“You are bluffing,” Father said. “You would not put your own family in prison.”

“You watched me burn, Father,” I said, my voice steady and cold. “And then you used my pain to buy this house.”

I pointed at the massive limestone patio, the heated infinity pool, and the outdoor kitchen.

“Every stone of this place was paid for with my skin,” I said.

Mother began to cry, the tears tracking through her expensive makeup.

“I tried to stop him, Maya,” she sobbed, reaching out a hand toward me. “I swear I tried.”

“You watched me hide in my room for five years, Mother,” I said, refusing to look at her hand. “You bought me long-sleeve shirts and told me to be strong.”

“We did it to protect you,” Mother cried. “To protect both of you.”

Chloe let out a strange, choked sound.

She looked at her own hands, then at the sparkling water of the pool.

“Protect me?” Chloe asked, her voice barely a whisper. “By letting her live like a ghost?”