Chapter 6
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I looked at each of them one by one, and suddenly–everything I’d done over the like nothing more than the pathetic performance of a clown.
years felt
Every time my parents were sick, it was always me rushing around, doing everything I could, even fainting from exhaustion on several occasions.
When Vincent’s company faced a crisis, I desperately tried to pull in business partners, even drinking so much I ended up with stomach ulcers more than once.
And as for Louise–my parents spoiled her endlessly all these years. I never tried to compete, never fought her for anything. Yet she always wanted to take what was mine.
I took a deep breath, feeling something in my chest quietly shattered and slipped away.
There was no place for me in this family.
There never had been.
Or perhaps, I never had a family at all.
As I faced their accusing glares–like I was some murderous criminal–I felt nothing but a cold numbness rise within me.
“Are you all satisfied now?” I asked calmly, looking directly at Louise.
Wasn’t this exactly what she had wanted?
Vincent snapped, “Sierra, what kind of attitude is that?! Louise is kind and innocent. She’s done nothing wrong–why are you treating her like this?”
“Can’t
you stop being so jealous? The Milton family doesn’t like women who are overly jealous.”
I looked at him with distant eyes. “Do you think I need your approval?”
‘Vincent, your so–called love is worthless.‘
He probably didn’t expect that the usually obedient woman would actually start to argue back. The discomfort this caused him was evident.
My father cleared his throat. “Alright, this matter ends here. Today is a family dinner day, so behave yourself.”
In other words–let it go. Pretend nothing happened.
I clenched my fists. When my eyes met the same cold, detached gaze from my father that I’d known all my life, I couldn’t bring myself to say another word.
At the dinner table, Vincent sat beside Louise. I was seated across from the two of them. He seemed flustered for a brief moment when he noticed my gaze, perhaps intending to explain. But before he could, Louise spoke first with her usual delicate tone, “Sis, my boyfriend is away on a business trip overseas. He and Vince are best friends, so I asked Vince to take care of me. You don’t mind, do you?”
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I almost laughed. There was no such overseas boyfriend.
She said that just to show off–to provoke me.
And Vincent played right along. “Yes, Sierra, don’t take it the wrong way. Louise’s injured and still recovering–of course I’d help out, as her boyfriend’s brother.”
I looked at him, trying to keep my voice steady despite the ache in my chest. “So everything you’ve done for her up to now–that was all out of brotherly duty to your friend?”
Before he could respond, my mother yanked me up and threw me to the floor, screaming at the top of her lungs, “You damn girl! Have you no shame?! Are you trying to turn the whole house upside down?”
“If Louise weren’t so kind and forgiving, do you think we’d even let you sit at this table after the awful things you’ve done?”
I lowered my gaze, an overwhelming sense of sadness filling my heart.
When I walked in earlier, I noticed the dishes on the table–every one of them was something Louise liked.
As for me?
There was nothing.
They didn’t know what I liked–or maybe they never cared.
And now my father chimed in again.
“That’s enough. Vince and Louise don’t come back often. Must you be the one to ruin every family gathering?”
I stood up and met my father’s direct gaze.
Suddenly, I understood. He was talking about me.
I let out a bitter laugh in my heart.
Who was the one who truly ruined this family?
Did they really not know the answer?
