Chapter 8: The Brother Who Never Loved Me

In my last life, I was terrified of Nathan. He was my drill sergeant, my warden—my so-called big brother. With Mom and Dad always on a plane, he raised me with punishment and tough love. Mess up, and you got the paddle or a night locked in your room.

When I brought home a stray puppy I found behind the 7-Eleven, he wouldn’t let the housekeeper open the door. "Filthy thing. This house doesn’t welcome strays. Take it to the pound."

I sat on the cold concrete steps, hugging that shivering puppy, watching headlights sweep past as neighbors came home from soccer practice. I was just a kid, seven or eight, and I thought he was just hardwired that way—incapable of kindness.

But then Rachel showed up. Suddenly, my brother was all gentle smiles, Starbucks lattes, and hair ruffles. I watched him hold an umbrella for her as she rescued a kitten in the rain, offer her money, comfort her when she cried at parties. Turns out, he could be soft—just not for me.

I spent years desperate for his love, for Tyler’s loyalty, for someone to pick me first. But not anymore. I didn’t need them. I could survive on my own. Hell, I could burn this whole world down and build something better.