3
640words
With a bitter smirk,he muttered,"After what you did to Sophie? You nearly drove Sophie to suicide last time.You’ve got no right to beg for help now."
Oh,he was thinking of Sophie's river stunt.
Back in high school, Sophie had waltzed into my life armed with our parents’ blind adoration. Her first act was bringing guys who'd chased me to corner me.
"Today,she's all yours."
That night,I endured unimaginable shame,even contemplating ending it all.
I'd never hated someone so much.
Why target me?She already had Mom,Dad,and Ethan's love.
Why this?
I dressed hastily and stormed to Sophie's class,tackling her in a fight.
When the principal dragged our parents in, I naively thought they’d see through her tears,,maybe kick Sophie out.
Instead,Sophie,in front of everyone,claimed she couldn't endure my bullying and jumped into a lake to end it.
Of course,she survived—Ethan saved her.
The narrative flipped.
No one listened to me.They branded me a bully who drove her sister to attempt suicide.
Mom screamed at me.
Dad slapped me until I bled.
Ethan,disappointed,wouldn't look at me,only held Sophie,heartbroken.
Despite having living parents, I felt like an orphan. Meanwhile, Sophie,who had no family of her own,was adored by all.
Later, when I got to college, I was diagnosed with cancer.
Staring at the terminal notice,I grieved but felt a strange relief.
I had nothing leftto lose.
I dropped out of college,deciding to spend the time I had left doing what I wanted.
Just then,Jake Carter called,asking me to pick him up.
Swallowing my pain,I took a cab to a bar and dragged him out,drunk and leaning on me.
“Lily!! Have you really fallen this far? You’re dating Jake Carter now? Don’t you know he’s nothing more than a charming playboy?!”
“He’s had at least a hundred girlfriends!”
I turned, speechless, staring at the person who had just spoken.
I couldn’t believe it.
Of all places, I never thought I’d run into my brother at a bar.
Why was he here?
Wasn’t he the one who hated this kind of place the most?
My eyes flicked to the girl in his arms—Sophie Reed.
Of course, it was because of her.
A bitter smile tugged at my lips, and with no choice but to explain, I said:
“Brother, you’ve misunderstood…”
“Misunderstood what? Get your ass home now!”
Sophie Reed pushed herself out of my brother’s arms and walked over to Jake Carter.
In a voice just loud enough for the three of us to hear, she said:
“My sister used to be a slut… she’s been with several men…”
Before she could finish her sentence, I swung my fist at her face.
“You bastard! What the hell is wrong with you?!”
My brother’s voice boomed, furious.
He charged at me, grabbed my hair, and slammed me to the ground with such force that even Jake Carter didn’t react fast enough to stop it.
My scalp burned with pain.
Ever since my cancer diagnosis, my hair had been falling out, and now my brother had yanked out a large handful.
“Why?!” I gritted through clenched teeth, forcing myself to hold back the tears.
His face contorted with anger."Because you're shameless,degrading yourself!You deserve this!Bullies deserve to be torn apart!"
I laughed through my tears. "Yes,bullies deserve that."
Jake,now sober,glared."Lily,I can have them locked up.How do you want them dealt with?"
Ethan and Sophie paled.They knew Jake had the means to make good on his threat.
I shook my head."No…let it go…"
I coughed,spitting blood,my face pale.
My condition was worsening.
"Faking it,Lily?You'll do anything for attention.You disgust me!"
Ethan…it's not like that…believe me…do you hate me that much?
I left you forever,as you wished.
I'd been missing for five days.
I thought Mom or Dad would hear of my death first.
It was Sophie.
