After that day, my parents treated me like I was made of glass.
They got up before dawn to cook breakfast for me, stealing glances while I ate, pretending not to
notice their worry.
“Go ahead,” I said one morning, putting my chopsticks down. “If you don’t get it out, you’ll
explode.”
My dad let out a heavy sigh. “Rachel had a mental breakdown. She’s been committed to a psychiatric facility.”
A faint smile tugged at my lips.
“Serves her right.”
He kept watching my expression, then added, “Ethan tried to kill himself. They managed to save
him.”
I popped the last soup dumpling into my mouth, chewed, and swallowed with satisfaction.
“Too bad they did.”
Their tragedies only amused me. Sharing them with me accomplished nothing–except maybe
brightening my morning.
“Are you done?” I asked, wiping my mouth. “If so, I’ve got to get to work.”
My dad started to speak, then just sighed and looked away.
That evening, I returned home from work to find a stranger waiting on couch.
my
“Good evening. I’m Thomas Reynolds, the attorney your brother hired to defend Rachel.”
Of course. Michael had really done it. I let out a bitter laugh.
“Just say what you came to say. I don’t have time for games.”
He cleared his throat. “Rachel’s trial is approaching, but her mental condition is deteriorating. She’s been diagnosed with severe anxiety and moderate depression.”
I shrugged. “What’s that got to do with me?”
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“Well… your brother hopes you’ll write a letter of leniency–for the sake of the family.”
I narrowed my eyes.
“Where is my brother?”
Thomas blinked. “I–what?”
I curled my lips into a cold smile.
“Tell him to come say it to my face. Don’t hide behind a lawyer like some coward.”
Thomas looked embarrassed. Clearly, this wasn’t the reaction he expected.
A moment later, Michael, my mom, and my dad stepped into the room.
“Charlie,” Michael said quietly, “I know you’ve been hurt. But Rachel’s already facing punishment. Do you really have to hold on to this grudge?”
My mom looked at me with disappointment. My dad said nothing, which meant he agreed.
I stared straight at Michael.
“Can you really live with the fact that she cheated on you?”
His eyes turned red.
“People make mistakes, Charlie. Who hasn’t?”
So she gets to be forgiven for everything she did. But if I make one mistake, I’m branded a disgrace
for life?
I clenched my glass so hard it shattered in my hand, blood dripping from my fingers.
“Give it up. I will never–ever–forgive them.”
My parents in unison, as if the weight of it aged them ten years.
A few days after the lawyer left, Ethan’s parents came to see me.
They didn’t say a word before dropping to their knees in front of me.
“Charlie, for the sake of all the years you spent with Ethan, please forgive him.”
“Please–I’ll get on my knees if that’s what it takes.”
I stared at them, stone–faced. Honestly, I felt nothing.
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This wasn’t about justice. This was about them trying to make themselves feel better by humiliating themselves.
“I gave him chance after chance, and he threw every single one away. And now he dares to try and destroy me? If I hadn’t recorded everything, I’d be the one behind bars.“”
“Save it. I’m not signing any letter.”
Ethan’s mother pointed at me and shrieked. “You evil little witch!”
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