2
In the backstage dressing room, I leaned against the wall with my head down, drawing circles on the floor with my high heels as I faced judgment from the three people opposite me.
My father, my younger sister, and my ex–boyfriend.
Isabella started sobbing dramatically: “My own sister causing a scandal with my boyfriend’s uncle – how can I ever show my face in public again?”
What? Afraid of losing face? You didn’t seem to care about that when you got together with your sister’s ex–boyfriend.
1 smirked sarcastically, but Isabella caught my expression. She cried even more pitifully: “It’s all my fault. If I hadn’t fallen for Aiden, none of this would have happened. But sister, you shouldn’t use this to get revenge. Don’t you know Mr. Howard isn’t someone to be trifled with?”
She paused, looking worriedly at our stone–faced father before continuing hesitantly: “If you really offend him, forget everything else – I’m just afraid he might not even spare MJ Entertainment.”
I raised my head, about to mock Isabella for making a mountain out of a molehill, when I was met with a slap across the face.
12:30 PM
<
The sharp sound echoed through the dressing room.
“Dad!” Isabella exclaimed in surprise, but her eyes betrayed a hint of schadenfreude.
The left side of my face instantly turned red, and a sharp ringing filled my left ear.
Dad pointed at my nose and started cursing: “Sophia, you little brat!”
The look in his eyes as he glared at me was filled with bone–deep hatred. It was as if I wasn’t his own daughter, but some mortal enemy who had murdered his entire family. “If Mr. Howard really gets angry, even your death wouldn’t be enough to make up for it!”
I rubbed my swollen left cheek and glared right back at him defiantly: “What? Upset that I ruined your plan to sell your daughter for your own gain?”
Isabella immediately jumped up: “Sophia, don’t go too far! Aiden and I truly love each other.”
Me: “Truly love each other?”
Aiden stood in the shadows, a cigarette between his fingers. Half his handsome face was obscured by smoke. As if he couldn’t bear to watch this farce any longer, he frowned and pushed open the door to leave. Isabella immediately chased after him.
Dad’s gaze on me grew even fiercer: “Sophia, don’t forget how much your sister suffered for those 18 years! And whose fault was that?”
Isabella had been kidnapped from an amusement park when she was three years old. It wasn’t until two years ago that I finally found her.
They said it was supposed to be my trip to the amusement park that day. That I had snuck out with her and caused her to get lost.
During the years she was missing, everyone looked at me with accusing eyes, including my mom. She even sent me away to live with my grandfather because of it.
The excuse was “out of sight, out of mind.”
When I was in high school, my grandfather passed away and I was brought back home.
But the very next day, Dad told us Isabella would never come back – she was dead.
At the same time, Mom died too. Between me and Isabella, she chose to go be with Isabella.
I became the wretched daughter who caused her sister to get lost and her mother to commit suicide.
The blame for causing my sister’s disappearance clung to me like a curse. Whenever did anything that went against their wishes, they would invoke that curse, bringing searing pain.
I held back the tears stinging my eyes, clenching my fists so tightly that my sharp nails dug into my palms until they were a bloody mess. “I’ve told you before, breaking up with Aiden was the last time. I’ve atoned for my sins.””
Aiden pushed open the door, rubbing his brow. His eyes held disgust as he spoke in a condescending tone: “Sophia, you should be grateful you’re Isabella’s sister. Otherwise I wouldn’t bother with you. I’ll smooth things over with my uncle.”
Isabella gratefully threw herself into his arms, hugging his waist and burying her face in his chest. “Aiden, thank goodness we have you.”
Aiden placed his hand on Isabella’s back, his gaze deep as he spoke gently: “Bella, don’t cry. I’ll take care of everything.”
“Sophia, this is the last time. Behave yourself from now on!”
He emphasized those last four words especially heavily.
My heart turned ice cold. Just three months ago, I never could have imagined that the man who had whispered sweet nothings in my ear and sworn to love me forever would now be telling me to “behave myself”
Drawing on some inner wellspring of pride, I enunciated each word clearly: “Alden, that won’t be necessary. It’s better if we keep things clear between us.”
“Suit yourself!” He tossed out those three words impatiently before immediately taking Isabella’s hand and walking out.
་
Dad snarled viciously: “Sophia, I don’t care if you have to kneel or die, you must make Mr. Howard calm down within three days.”
The dressing room suddenly emptied out. I slid down the wall to the floor, finally feeling the pain from my bloodied palms. As my mind slowly cleared, I remembered one important thing.
I had badmouthed Lucas Howard behind his back before, and he had caught me red–handed.
Hopefully…maybe…he’d forgotten about it?
After all, it had been two years.
12:30 PM
