Chapter 4

Tears streamed down my face. I sobbed, questioning them in despair.

"What else do you want from me?"

"You told me to always listen to Chloe. I did."

"Chloe wanted to fall down the stairs to frame me. To keep her from getting hurt, I threw myself down instead."

"But you called it my pathetic little trick."

Their faces turned pale, shifting through a dozen different emotions.

I kept going, "Chloe said I smelled, so I jumped into the pond to wash myself. But you said I embarrassed the family."

"Now that I’m leaving, you won't let me go."

"What do I have to do to make you happy? Do I have to die for you to finally let me go?"

With her schemes suddenly exposed, a flash of panic crossed Chloe's face.

But she quickly recovered. She dropped gracefully to her knees, looking innocent and deeply hurt.

"Mom, Dad, Julian... I never said those things. Nora, why are you lying and accusing me?"

But her mind was screaming: *“Give up, Nora! All I have to do is cry a little, and they will always take my side! You will never beat me, in this life or the last!”*

My parents looked incredibly unsettled, their eyes darting between Chloe and me.

Chloe began to cry on cue. "Mom, Dad, you are my only family. If even you don't believe me, I don't know what to do..."

"If you don't want me here, I... I’ll leave. I won't get in the way of your family reunion."

She turned and ran out of the villa.

Julian chased after her like a madman. Before he left, he threw a glare at me. "If anything happens to Chloe, I will never forgive you."

I let out a cold sneer in my mind. Threaten me all you want. My goal had already been reached.

Besides, Chloe would never actually give up this life of luxury.

Eleanor pulled me back to my room. She grabbed my bag of ragged clothes and threw them straight into the trash can.

With tears in her eyes, her trembling hand reached out to touch my face.

Before she could, I flinched violently, covering my face, and dropped to my knees on the floor.

"I’m sorry! I was wrong! Please don't hit me... I’ll call you!"

With trembling lips, I cried out, "Mom! Mom! Please don't hit me!"

Seeing me like this, Eleanor broke down.

She knelt in front of me, pulling me tightly into her arms, rocking me gently.

"Oh, baby, it's okay. No one is going to hurt you ever again."

"I'm so sorry. It's my fault. I let you suffer so much. Don't worry, your dad has already sent people to investigate. We will get justice for you. We will put those monsters in prison."

I curled up in her arms and pretended to fall asleep.

***