Chapter 1

Thanksgiving always made me happy. The smell of roasting turkey, Mom bustling around the kitchen in her designer apron, Dad setting up the dining room with way too much care.

This year felt different though. My little brother Phoenix was bringing his new girlfriend home for the first time.

"Scarlett, can you check the cranberry sauce?" Mom called from the kitchen.

I stirred the pot, watching the berries pop and release their dark red juice. Phoenix had been dating this Crystal girl for about six months now. All I knew was that she was some kind of influencer or model.

He'd been pretty secretive about her, which wasn't like him at all.

"They're here!" Dad announced from the living room.

I heard the front door open, followed by Phoenix's excited voice and a higher-pitched female laugh. My stomach did a little flip.

First impressions mattered, and I really wanted to like whoever made my little brother happy.

Phoenix walked into the dining room first, practically glowing. Behind him came a petite blonde in what looked like a very expensive dress.

The fabric was gorgeous, definitely designer, but something about the way she'd put it all together felt off. Too much jewelry, too much makeup, like she was trying really hard to look like someone she wasn't.

"Everyone, this is Crystal," Phoenix said, his arm around her waist. "Crystal, meet my family."

She smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. Instead, those eyes were busy scanning our dining room, taking inventory of everything from Mom's art collection to the crystal chandelier Dad had inherited from his grandmother.

"It's so wonderful to finally meet you all," Crystal said in a voice that sounded like she was performing. "Phoenix has told me so much about the Ravencroft family."

The way she said our last name made it sound like a brand name.

Mom stepped forward with her usual warmth. "Welcome, dear. We're so excited to have you join us for Thanksgiving."

"Thank you, Mrs. Ravencroft. Your home is absolutely stunning. I can tell you have exquisite taste."

Dad shook her hand politely, but I caught the slight raise of his eyebrow. He had good instincts about people.

We all settled around the dining table. Crystal made sure to sit right next to Phoenix, practically attached to his side.

As we passed around the dishes, she launched into what sounded like a rehearsed speech about her "business ventures."

"I'm involved in several investment opportunities right now," she said, cutting her turkey into tiny pieces. "Real estate, some tech startups. I'm very selective about my partnerships, of course. I only work with people who share my vision for excellence."

"That sounds fascinating," Mom said politely. "What kind of background do you have in investing?"

Crystal's fork paused for just a second. "Oh, I've always had a natural instinct for it. Some people are just born with business sense, you know? I've been networking in the right circles since I was young."

I watched Phoenix nod along like everything she said made perfect sense. This was the same guy who called me for help when he couldn't figure out his taxes.

"And my social media presence has really opened doors," Crystal continued. "I have a very engaged following. Brands are constantly reaching out for collaborations."

"How many followers do you have?" I asked, genuinely curious.

"Oh, numbers aren't everything," she said quickly. "It's about quality engagement, authentic connections. My audience really trusts my recommendations."

That was definitely not an answer.

Mom reached across the table to hand Phoenix the gravy boat. Her hand brushed against his for maybe half a second as he took it.

Crystal's entire demeanor changed.

"Mrs. Ravencroft," she said sharply, loud enough that we all stopped eating. "Please be more careful about physical contact with Phoenix."

The silence that followed was deafening. Mom's hand froze in mid-air. Dad's fork clinked against his plate as he set it down.

Phoenix looked like he'd been slapped.

"I'm sorry?" Mom said slowly.

"I just think it's important to maintain appropriate boundaries," Crystal said, her voice getting higher. "Phoenix and I are very serious about each other, and I'd appreciate it if you could be more mindful of...well, proper behavior."

Mom's face went through about five different expressions before landing on polite confusion. "Of course, dear. I didn't realize...I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Mom was apologizing for accidentally touching her own son's hand.

The tension in the room was thick enough to cut with a knife. Dad cleared his throat and tried to change the subject, asking Phoenix about his latest auditions.

But Crystal wasn't done.

I got up to check on the dessert in the kitchen, hoping to give everyone a chance to reset. When I came back carrying the pumpkin pie, Crystal's eyes locked onto me like a laser.

"Phoenix," she said slowly, her voice dripping with accusation. "You told me there weren't any other women living in this house."

Phoenix looked genuinely confused. "Crystal, that's my sister Scarlett. I told you about her."

"You most certainly did not tell me she lived here."

"She doesn't live here," Phoenix said. "She just comes for holidays and—"

"She's here now, isn't she?" Crystal's voice was getting shrill. "Who is she really, Phoenix? What is she to you?"

I set the pie down carefully, my hands starting to shake. Not from fear, but from pure disbelief.

"I'm his sister," I said as calmly as I could. "Just his sister."

Crystal stood up so fast her chair nearly tipped over. She pointed at me like I was some kind of criminal.

"Don't lie to me! I can see the way you look at him! You're 31 years old and still single—that's not normal! You're obviously obsessed with Phoenix! You've been trying to seduce him!"

The words hit me like a physical blow. I almost dropped the pie.

31 years old and still single. Like it was some kind of disease.

Yes, I was 31. Yes, I was single. I'd focused on getting my PhD, on building my career, on helping families heal through therapy.

I'd had relationships along the way, but I'd chosen my work over settling for the wrong person. I'd never regretted that choice.

Until this moment, when this stranger made it sound like something shameful.

I looked at Phoenix, waiting for him to defend me. Waiting for him to tell this crazy person that she was out of line.

Instead, he grabbed Crystal's hand and pulled her back down into her chair.

"Baby, please," he whispered. "She's just my sister. You're being—"

"I'm being what, Phoenix?" Crystal's eyes were wild now. "Protective of our relationship? Concerned about appropriate boundaries? Look at her! Look at the way she's staring at you right now!"

I wasn't staring at Phoenix. I was staring at her, trying to figure out if she was actually insane or just evil.

"This ends now," Crystal announced, reaching for Phoenix's phone on the table. "If you really love me, if you want this relationship to work, you need to prove it."

"Crystal, what are you doing?" Phoenix asked, but he didn't try to stop her.

She unlocked his phone—apparently she knew his passcode—and started scrolling through his contacts.

"Delete them," she said.

"Delete what?"

"All of them. Every single woman in your phone. Starting with your mother and your sister."

Mom gasped. Dad started to stand up. I felt like I was watching a car crash in slow motion.

"Crystal, that's crazy," Phoenix said, but his voice was weak.

"It's not crazy, it's necessary. From now on, you only need one woman in your life." She held up the phone, her finger hovering over Mom's contact. "Choose, Phoenix. Your family, or your future wife."

The room was dead silent except for the sound of my heart pounding in my ears. This was actually happening. This woman was actually asking my brother to delete his own family from his phone.

And Phoenix was considering it.

Crystal's finger moved to the delete button. "From now on," she said with a smile that made my skin crawl, "you only have me."