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My whole body shook uncontrollably, heart shattering.
My mind fogged. Plates crashed to the floor, the sound echoing in my chest.
"You'd trust a stranger over your own daughter? I should ask why I have family like you!"
Mom silently picked up shards. Ethan murmured calming words to Dad.
Seeing me like this, Dad trembled with rage. "Don't want us? Fine! Get out! Bring Sophia back."
"All attitude, no substance."
Tears burned in my eyes. Liam quickly stepped between Dad and me, pulling me aside before fists flew.
Dinner ended in disaster.
I begged Liam to take me away. Under a starless sky, I trailed him like a ghost.
The familiar route led to our wedding home.
Decorated exactly as three years prior, the memories flooded back. Tears I'd fought spilled over.
Liam gently rubbed my shoulder.
"Your dad... he didn't mean it. He's just upset."
I choked out, "Do you believe me?"
He hesitated, silent.
Silence was the answer.
My heart twisted. Liam sighed. "Bella, honey, let the past go. Move on."
Move on?
Despair flickered.
"Whether she was acting or not, drop it. Your parents' health... it's fragile, thanks to..."
My voice trembled. "Thanks to what? Thanks to that thief's 'care'?"
"Dad fell because she deliberately spilled oil!"
Seeing Liam's disappointed look, I knew he didn't believe me.
I thought Liam, beyond my parents, would be my rock. Instead, he'd been deceived too.
Defeated, I whispered, "Let's just sleep."
Liam tucked me in and lay beside me.
The silence stretched. Hours passed, but sleep wouldn't come.
The mattress shifted. Liam turned over, his phone's glow faintly lighting the space.
I frowned, glancing over.
Liam was on his side, staring intently at a photo.
In it, 'I' beamed, arm around Liam, while Liam sulked – though his leaning body showed he didn't mind.
A lovely memory... I had zero recollection.
No one their own self better than themselves.
I instantly recognized the person in the photo wasn't me. It was Sophia.
Why did Liam have photos of Sophia? And why had he stored it in a private, locked album?
What was he thinking as he look at it?
Liam locked his phone and headed to the bathroom.
I seized the chance. The password was still the date we met. I unlocked it, opened Photos.
Dozens of images flooded the screen – someone who looked like me, but wasn't.
Her crying quietly after a slight. Her eyes widening with delight at some new food. Her beaming with relief after my parents “forgave” her..
A tear fell onto the screen. By accident, it tapped open his notes app.
"Sophia, seeing her for even a second makes me sick."
"Why did she have to come back?"
"I miss you..."
Blood rushed to my head. My ears rang. The world went silent, then dark..
