The moment I saw my brother behind the wheel of a sleek red convertible,

I knew something was wrong. I never expected that car to be the key to a betrayal I couldn’t have imagined —

and part of a plan Gran had set in motion long before she passed away.

I’m Juniper, now 26, and it’s been four years since I left home.

Moving out of state was the best decision I ever made, freeing myself from

the family and all the hurt that came with it.

Growing up, I was always overshadowed by my older brother, Maverick.

He wasn’t just the favorite — he was the golden child in every way. As for me,

I was the “spare,” as Gran used to joke, though her voice always softened when she said it.

She was the only one who ever made me feel like I belonged.

That’s part of why I left — to escape the feeling of being invisible. Noel, my boyfriend, had pushed me to move and live for myself, far from the family’s shadows. We packed up our little car and headed for the city, leaving the past behind.

“Noel, I just couldn’t take it anymore,” I remember telling him one night over dinner. His smile was kind as he reached across the table to hold my hand.

“You don’t have to explain, June. You did the right thing. You deserve more than being a second choice,” he reassured me.

In the years since I’d left, my connection with the family had dwindled. The calls stopped, texts became rare, and it felt like my absence didn’t even register with them. The only one who still kept in touch was Gran. She’d call me just to hear about my day, even if it was mundane or messy. She made me feel like I mattered.

Then one day, I found out she had died — by accident. I didn’t hear from my family; I found out through a Facebook post, of all things. Gran’s photo, a date, and a “Rest in Peace” message from an old family friend. I couldn’t believe it. The pain and shock hit me all at once, and the betrayal burned even deeper. How could they not tell me?

Without hesitating, I booked a flight back home. I needed to visit Gran’s grave, to say my goodbyes on my own terms. But as soon as I got back to town, I saw Maverick driving that shiny red convertible. Maverick, who could barely make ends meet, suddenly had a car that looked worth more than his entire life savings. My gut told me something was off.

Standing by Gran’s grave later that day, I struggled to accept that she was really gone. I hadn’t been able to say goodbye, and finding out about her death through a social media post still stung deeply. Just then, Mr. Anderson, Gran’s closest friend, approached me. His face was heavy with sympathy.