After her rebirth
Chapter 20

Officer Nolan couldn't shake the gnarly scene he saw at Katniss's place. If he hadn't seen the mess with his own eyes, Lucas might've pulled a fast one on him. Seriously, who trashed their sister's house and thought it was cool? As Lucas bailed, Katniss, tears streaming, managed to say, "Our school had this speech gig, and I snagged a spot. But my parents and brothers made me give it to Clara. I said no, and Simon went berserk and wrecked my place." Family love, huh? What a joke.

Katniss decided to flip the script on them. If she couldn't get back at them, she could at least make them squirm.

And boy, did it work. Lucas was fuming, giving her the death stare, trying to shut her up.

Katniss acted like she didn't notice, wiping her tears and going on, "I know I grew up with my grandma and don't have much of a bond with them, but they can't just push their own sister around!"

Knowing what the Manners family was all about, Katniss made sure to hammer home the word "sister" to piss off her brothers.

Simon was losing it, wanting to charge at Katniss, but the cuffs held him back. All he could do was curse up a storm.

"Katniss! You bitch! You've ruined me, and I won't let this slide!" Simon's voice was dripping with rage and despair. He fought against the cuffs, grabbed a chair, and chucked it at Katniss.

Katniss, already hiding behind the cop, now had a cold, wary look in her eyes. "Help me! He wants to kill me! I'm scared!"

Simon's face twisted with fury, his eyes wild. "Katniss, let me tell you, Clara is my only sister. You'll always be an outsider! She's the princess of our family, and I'm not your brother! If I ever get out, this isn't over!" Simon yelled, his frustration boiling over.

Simon hated Katniss, refusing to see her as family.

In her past life, Katniss had cried over this countless times, but now she was numb. This so-called sibling bond? Whoever wanted it could have it.

Katniss sneered inside but put on a pitiful, hurt look to milk some sympathy.

Officer Nolan looked at Simon, puzzled. "That's weird. Clara's your sister, but Katniss isn't? Was she adopted?"

Katniss's lips curled slightly, staying quiet, feeling pretty pleased with herself.

Simon's face showed a flicker of guilt, but seeing Katniss's smug look, he snapped. He couldn't stand her having the upper hand. "Who said that! Katniss is not my sister, never will be. Clara is my only sister! Katniss was adopted!" Katniss watched Simon lose his cool, finally admitting they never saw her as family. But seeing him so pissed off? That was pure satisfaction.