Beautiful Rose (Beautiful Rose 1)

“What the hell are you doing here? How did you even get in?” I gasped, reaching for my bathrobe to cover myself. Sliding it on, I wrapped it tightly around myself.

She rolled her eyes. “Jack used to live here? You'd be surprised how well I know that fire escape out there. You really should get that lock fixed, by the way,” she added, feigning concern.

“What do you want, Harmony?” I asked, wishing I'd left my skirt on. My phone lay in its pocket.

“Relax, Rose. I'm not here to hurt you. I just wanted to chat.” She smiled again and patted the bed next to her.

I remained in the doorway. There was no way in hell I was getting any closer to her. I stood, waiting for the bombshell she obviously wanted to drop. What did she know? It had to be something big, for her to break in here and confront me like this. She stuck me as the type of person who didn't give up until she got what she wanted, no matter who she hurt in the process.

“Or don’t,” she shrugged. “So let’s talk families, Rose,” Harmony said, her voice bright, as if we were old friends. The knot in my stomach tightened.

“What about them?” I said, gritting my teeth.

Harmony shrugged. “I just think it’s sad how the dynamics of a family can change so much after an accident,” she said with a grin.

Oh god—she knew. I suddenly felt sick. Leaning forward, I tried to ignore the searing pain forming in my chest. Harmony knowing about my suicide attempts was the last thing I needed right now.

“I don't know what you're—”

“Cut the act, Rose,” Harmony spat, “I know everything. Your little sister? The one you killed by plying her full of sleeping tablets when you were five?

“I didn't . . .” My words trailed off. “I have no idea what the hell you're talking about. Have you been drinking?”

“No, I haven’t been drinking,” she sneered.

“I’m an only child, Harmony. And you’ve obviously lost your marbles.”

“Sure you’re an only child now. What do you remember about that night, Rose? Anything? I bet your parents worked hard to make sure you wouldn't remember. I mean, it’s amazing how, when you hear something so often, you begin to believe it.”

“Like you believing you have any kind of a chance with Jack?” I retorted.

“You so don’t want to fuck with me, bitch,” she hissed, getting off the bed and stalking toward me.

“Get out. Get the fuck out of my home!” I grabbed her by the arm and dragged her out of the room, my nails digging into her skin. She laughed and thrust a cream colored folder at me.

“It's all in here, Rose. Now you have two choices. Stay the fuck away from Jack and I'll forget this ever happened.” Her eyes narrowed. “Or don't stay away, and everyone, including Jack, will know what a murdering whore you are,” she hissed.

She yanked her arm out of my hold and stalked to the door. I shook with anger. How could someone be so hurtful? She was pure evil and would stop at nothing to get what she wanted.

“Think about it,” she said, turning back to me. “Is Jack really going to want anything to do with you, knowing that you killed your own baby sister?”

“Harmony, do the world a favor and go fuck yourself. Jack would go gay before he ever went back to you.” I slammed the door in her stupid, smiling face.

Still shaking, I walked over to the kitchen table and sat down, setting the folder in front of me. As I scanned page after page, I realized that although Harmony might be a lying, deceitful whore—she wasn’t making this up.

Chapter Twenty-One

Rose

I hadn't seen my mother since the day I’d discharged myself from the hospital. Now here I was, about to ring the doorbell. I had a key but it felt odd using it. Like I'd once lived here and moved on, so now I had no right to let myself in. How wonderful, that my

own family had left me feeling like this.

In my right hand, I clutched the folder. The proof. Proof, of all the lies that I’d been fed.

Proof of my sister—Eve.

I felt sick. I felt betrayed and hurt that this had been kept from me for so long. And I was embarrassed as hell that it had taken Harmony of all people for me to find out.