But the way I could run, jump, and eat three
bowls of food in one go didn’t seem like I had been abused.
Only when Xavier sat beside me would I lean against him.
Across the table full of delicious food, I could hear Hailey grinding her teeth in frustration.
7
“I thought you would complain to your sister.”
After Hailey left, Xavier looked at me seriously.
Clearly, the way I was putting on a show of affection in front of Hailey had confused him.
“Are you doing this because… you’re afraid of
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“Are you doing this because… you’re afraid of worrying your family?”
Xavier suddenly stood up, rummaging through
the house until he found a box.
He placed the contents in front of me one by
one.
He said that this was a mace, this was a pair of pliers, and this was industrial pepper spray.
“Riley, if I ever attack you again, don’t hesitate to use them on me.”
He looked at me, so sincere that I felt guilty.
I tucked the pillow, hiding my own “torture kit” deeper.
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“These aren’t really necessary.” I explained, “I had prepared them for self–defense, what you brought are obviously for self–harm!”
I finally understood how my sister had pulled out her teeth and nails in the last life.
“Riley, I don’t remember what happened to me in the past, but I know that my mom has been worried about my condition for many years. I finally met a girl like you who loves math and has the same interests as me. Can you… give
me another chance? Don’t be so quick to leave me?”
I looked into Xavier’s clear eyes, my gaze
traveling from his left temple to the old scar
hidden beneath his thick black hair.
I felt a little sad. In some ways, Mrs. Van Derlyn
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was like my grandma.
They were both trying their best to give their children the best.
But some people were born undeserving of such love, like Hailey.
Grandma knew that Hailey’s personality was different from mine, and she was more
sensitive, more vain, and more outspoken, so she tried to meet her needs as much as possible. But it was never enough to fill her desires, and she even blamed Grandma for not giving her a better background and material life.
I could tolerate Hailey’s oppression and
bullying, but I could never forgive her for hurting our grandma, the woman who had raised us for so many years, just to force me to do what she
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8:52
wanted.
^
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