Chapter 2
When I pushed open the door, laughter and cheerful voices immediately filled the air. Hunter and Nathan looked absolutely radiant–no trace of the panic and worry from their phone calls earlier.
Rebecca was acting all cutesy when she spotted me, then immediately jumped onto Nathan, wrapping her pale, curvy legs tight around his waist.]
“Nathan. I’m so scared Jessica’s going to kick me out!“[]
Hunter was quick to reassure her: “Don’t worry, Rebecca. She doesn’t have that authority. As long as I’m here, this will always be your home.“]
Rebecca got exactly the answer she wanted, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction.[]
It hit me that this wasn’t her first time playing victim.[]
The year they brought me back, Rebecca had hugged me and cried in front of everyone, playing the perfect loving sister and winning everyone’s praise. But the moment she got me alone in the bedroom, she slapped me across the face.]
Before I could even get back on my feet, she ran out sobbing: “Jessica hates me for taking her place! She told me to get out!”
Hatred flashed in Hunter’s eyes as he threw my luggage outside, and while Nathan didn’t say anything, he ordered the staff to disinfect everywhere I’d been with bleach.
Istood alone in the courtyard while servants sprayed disinfectant around me, with all three of them watching from the balcony like I was a piece of trash.
My vision slowly refocused on the present.]
Nathan was about to comfort Rebecca when he caught sight of me, his pupils contracting sharply. He forced himself to stay calm and pulled Rebecca down.[]
“Jessica, you’re back. How are you feeling today?“]
Like always, he reached up to touch my face, but I instinctively turned away.
Nathan’s hand froze mid–air and he stared at me for several seconds, his expression unreadable.
Rebecca timidly stepped forward: “Jessica, I came back on my own. This has nothing to do with Hunter or Nathan–please don’t blame them.”
I opened my mouth to speak, but before I could say anything, Nathan and Hunter moved in front of her like a protective wall, as if they were afraid I might hurt her.
Hunter’s tone turned firm: “Rebecca had nowhere to stay when she came back to the country. It won’t affect you at all.”
Nathan frowned at me, just like three years ago: “Jessica, this will always be Rebecca’s home.“]
Everything they said favored Rebecca, despite her betraying them countless times and despite my explaining that slap countless times.]
But no one believed me, no one would ever really blame her, just like no one would ever really trust me.
The three of them formed a sealed world that I could never break into, no matter how hard I tried.]
Good thing I didn’t want to anymore.
Rebecca was getting excited–she wanted me to cry and throw a tantrum like before, to fall apart and become the clown again.
But under their tense, expectant stares, I just said “Oh” and walked away.
All three of them froze in place. No screaming match, no breakdown–I just calmly accepted it.[]
Nathan stared at me for a couple seconds, then shook off Rebecca who was still trying to cling to him and followed me.
e.D
