Chapter 1
My dad was away on a business trip when my stepmother put a cup of instant noodles in front of me for lunch. Across the table, she and her daughter were eating fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and everything I loved.
I was seven years old, and I already knew better than to ask why.
“Eat your noodles, Ethan,” Amanda said without looking at me.
I nodded and picked up my fork.
Her daughter, Lily, was only six.
She kept staring at my bowl.
“Mom, why doesn’t Ethan get chicken?”
Amanda’s smile disappeared.
“He has food.”
“But we have lots.”
“Lily, eat your lunch.”
I lowered my head and pretended I wasn’t hungry.
Then Lily picked up a piece of chicken from her plate.
She walked around the table and placed it beside my noodles.
“Here, Ethan.”
I whispered, “Thank you.”
Amanda slammed her fork down.
“Lily!”
My little sister jumped.
“I told you not to give him your food.”
“But he’s hungry.”
“He has noodles.”
Lily’s eyes filled with tears.
“Daddy always gives us the same food.”
Amanda stood so quickly her chair scraped across the floor.
“Your father isn’t here.”
Then she grabbed the chicken from my bowl and threw it back onto Lily’s plate.
“You need to understand something,” she said, pointing at me.
“He is not your real brother.”
Lily started crying.
“Yes, he is!”
“Go to your room.”
“No!”
Amanda grabbed Lily’s arm, but Lily pulled away and ran toward the hallway.
Then she stopped and looked at me.
“Ethan, show Mom what Daddy gave you before he left.”
Amanda froze.
May you like
I slowly reached into my pocket and pulled out the small black device Dad had told me never to mention.
The moment she saw the blinking red light, her face went completely white.
