Lia had been surprised when her aunt invited her over for Sunday dinner. It had been months since she moved out of their house and they had barely kept in touch.
Her life had become lonelier than she expected, and though she told herself she didn't care, a small part of her was relieved when her aunt reached out.
"It'll be nice," her aunt had said over the phone, her tone uncharacteristically soft. "I'll cook all your favorite dishes."
Lia hesitated at first. Her relationship with her aunt and uncle had always been strained, more of an obligation than a bond of love. After her parents died, they had taken her in — but there was never warmth, never affection. Just expectations and quiet resentment. Still, they were her only family. Even when the house had felt cold, even when Elle treated her with disdain, Lia clung to the hope that one day things would get better. Maybe this was the start of that.
When she arrived, the house was filled with the scent of roasted chicken, garlic, and fresh herbs. The table was set with care — delicate white plates, gleaming silverware, and crystal glasses. A feast of roasted vegetables, mashed potatoes, and glistening gravy stretched across the table. It was the kind of meal they had never bothered to make for her before.
"Come, sit!" her aunt said, beaming in a way that felt almost forced. "Eat, eat!"
"You must be starving," Elle said, smiling brightly as she passed Lia a plate. "Mom made all of this just for you."
Elle's sudden sweetness was strange. Normally, her cousin barely acknowledged her presence unless it was to make a snide remark. But tonight, Elle's eyes were bright, her smile wide. Lia's chest tightened with unease, but she pushed the feeling aside. Maybe they were just trying to make amends. Maybe they were trying to be better.
Lia took a hesitant bite of roasted chicken. It was tender and seasoned perfectly. A warmth settled in her stomach, momentarily easing the knot of suspicion in her chest. She smiled faintly. Maybe they really did want to reconnect.
"So," her uncle said, breaking the silence. "How's work?"
"It's… fine," Lia replied.
Her aunt reached across the table, setting another slice of chicken on Lia's plate. "Eat more, dear. You've gotten so thin."
Lia hesitated before taking another bite. After months of barely speaking to her, the sudden attention was disorienting. She wondered if it was the money. A week ago, she had sent them a generous sum after getting a bonus at work. Her aunt had accepted it without much comment. Maybe this dinner was their way of showing gratitude.
It didn't really matter. As long as they were kind sometimes, that was enough.
After the meal, Lia's eyelids started to feel heavy. A deep, unnatural exhaustion settled into her limbs. Her head swam.
"You look tired," Elle said, watching her closely. "Go lie down in my room."
Lia frowned. Elle never let anyone into her room — not even her closest friends. "I'm okay—"
"No, really." Elle smiled. "You'll feel better after a quick rest."
Lia tried to protest, but her legs felt like lead. Her head throbbed as a strange fog settled over her mind.
"I… guess," she mumbled.
Elle stood and gently took her arm, guiding her toward the bedroom down the hall. Lia barely registered the sensation of sinking into the soft mattress. Her vision blurred as her cousin's face hovered above hers.
Once the door was closed, Elle turned toward her mother, and nodded.
Her mother pulled out her phone.
"She's asleep," she said quietly. "You can come now."
Ten minutes later, a sleek black car pulled up outside the house. A well-dressed older woman stepped out, her heels clicking sharply against the pavement. She was tall, with silver hair pinned back in a flawless twist, and wore a dark ruby dress that shimmered beneath the porch light. A bodyguard followed closely behind.
Elle opened the door. The woman's gaze swept over the house with clinical detachment before settling on Elle and her mother.
"She's in Elle's bedroom, at the end of the hallway, " Lia's aunt said.
The old lady motioned the bodyguard to go ahead and grab Lia.
The bodyguard disappeared down the hall without a word. Moments later, he returned, carrying Lia's limp body in his arms. Her head lolled to the side, her dark hair spilling over his shoulder like a curtain of silk.
"Remember the plan," the woman said. Her voice was cold and precise. "You'll wait two days before filing the missing person's report. Say she left after dinner. Say you assumed she went home."
Elle's mother's hands trembled. "And you're sure no one will—"
"The authorities won't care." The woman smiled thinly. "Not for a girl like her."
She reached into her purse and pulled out a check.
Lia's aunt gasped when she saw the amount. Her hands tightened around the paper. Three million dollars. More money than they had ever seen in their lives. More than enough to pay off their debts. More than enough to start fresh.
"You've made the right choice." said the old woman, leaving.
Lia's aunt set the check down on the table with shaky hands. Her husband came into the room, his eyes widening when he saw the check. He sat down heavily beside her, his face pale.
"This… this is real?" he whispered.
"It's real," Lia's aunt murmured.
Elle slid into a chair across from them, crossing her legs. Her eyes glittered with something dark. "We've taken care of her for long enough."
"She was always a burden," her uncle muttered.
"Yes." the aunts' gaze hardened. "And now she's someone else's problem."
Outside, the bodyguard carried Lia's unconscious body to the car. The older woman followed, her heels clicking against the concrete as the car door opened. Lia's pale face reflected in the dim light of the streetlamp. Her chest rose and fell with shallow breaths.
The woman settled into the seat beside her, brushing a strand of hair from Lia's face. "You'll have the honor to sacrifice yourself for greatness", the woman said.
The door closed with a soft thud.
Elle stood by the window, watching as the car drove away. She touched the check, her fingers brushing over the smooth paper. They didn't exactly know what those people wanted to do with Lia, but it didn't matter. They already got what they wanted.
Down the street, the black car disappeared into the night.