Chapter 4

My fiancé, Ethan Vance, called.

His family was as prominent as mine, our engagement more a merger than a romance.

"Liv, what the hell is going on?" he asked, his voice cold.

"My parents are hearing things. This is embarrassing."

I told him I was sick, that doctors didn' t know why.

He didn' t sound convinced.

"People are saying... things. About your behavior."

Later, he came to the apartment I shared with Izzy off-campus.

My parents were there, a family meeting about my "crisis."

"This is unacceptable, Olivia," Mr. Miller said. "Your actions reflect on all of us."

Mrs. Hayes-Miller nodded. "Isabella would never bring such shame upon us. She' s a good girl."

Izzy sat beside her mother, looking demure and concerned.

"I just want Liv to be okay," she said softly.

Ethan cleared his throat.

"Mr. Miller, Mrs. Hayes-Miller... given the circumstances... perhaps it would be best if the engagement... if it were transferred to someone more stable. Someone like Izzy."

My father actually considered it. My stepmother looked pleased.

Izzy feigned shock. "Oh, Ethan, I couldn' t..."

It was a repeat of my past nightmare, but now I saw the strings.

I looked at Ethan, at his superficial disgust.

And I remembered his not-so-subtle glances at Izzy, the way he lit up around her energy.

"Ethan," I said, my voice calm.

He looked surprised I wasn' t crying or protesting.

I reached up and unclasped the locket Izzy had put back on me. The cursed one.

"This locket," I said, holding it out to him. "Izzy gave it to me for good luck. She has one just like it, a matching one. I think... I think she' d be thrilled if you wore this. Secretly, of course. As a bond between you two."

Ethan looked at the locket, then at Izzy.

Izzy' s eyes widened slightly, a flicker of something I couldn' t read.

He hesitated, then took it. "A good luck charm?"

"Exactly," I said. "Keep it safe. Wear it for her."

He slipped it into his pocket.

Izzy shot me a confused, angry look, but quickly masked it.

My parents were too busy being disappointed in me to notice the exchange.

The first piece of my plan was in place.