“Sisters?” Blaire sneered. “You threw me away. Just like my adoptive mother did. Just like my father did. Just like Carter did. I thought you were different, but you’re just like the rest of them. I can see that I’ve given you a chance you don’t deserve. I’m sorry, Kate, but you failed the test. But at least I’ll have Annabelle.”

“Don’t you dare hurt Annabelle,” Kate yelled.

“Hurt her? I don’t want to hurt her. She’s my niece. My flesh and blood. She’ll be better off without you. I’ll come and visit her after you’re dead. I’ll tell her all the horrible things you did when she’s old enough to understand. She’ll know that it’s all your fault. That her poor Auntie Blaire could never have children because of her own mother’s selfishness. Then she’ll love me and never leave me.”

“My fault? What are you talking about?”

“The accident, Kate. The one we had because you were so out-of-control drunk that you distracted me. Leaning over the seat, playing with the radio, when I kept yelling at you to sit back down. Maybe I would have been able to avoid that driver hitting us, if you’d have just listened to me.”

“But you weren’t even hurt. Jake died that night. Don’t you think I’ve tortured myself over it every single day of my life since? I will live with that guilt forever. But we were kids, Blaire. Stupid kids.”

“Is that your excuse for everything? Youth? Take some responsibility. You were too wrapped up in your own misery to see what it did to me. Did it occur to you to ask why Carter broke up with me?” Her voice was rising. “I was pregnant. And your recklessness cost me both the baby and the man I was going to marry.”

The thought that she’d also been responsible for the loss of a pregnancy overwhelmed her. “Oh, Blaire. I’m so sorry. I didn’t know you were pregnant.”

Blaire brought her face close to Kate’s. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” she mimicked in a mocking singsong. “It’s too late for your sorrys. The miscarriage caused an infection. My husband’s walked out on me because I can’t give him a child, and it’s all your fault.”

“What do you mean, he walked out on you? He sent you flowers. And that beautiful note.”

“I sent those flowers. I couldn’t let everyone in Baltimore know my husband doesn’t love me anymore.”

“Blaire, please, listen to me. You need help. I can help you. Please, we can work this out.”

Blaire gave her a sad look. “You broke my heart, Kate. Twice. You’ve left me no other choice. I can’t let you tell anyone the truth.”