5
948words
[Of course. A pearl like you shouldn't be tarnished for them. I've seen the recent news. They framed and hurt you for that adopted daughter. You have no reason to stay. What do you want me to do?]
I clumsily typed a few lines with my palm. The hospital room door opened.
My mother saw the words on my screen, her face drastically changing.
"Isabelle, who are you messaging? Where are you going in three days?"
I closed the app and pulled up the calendar to show he, showing her four marked words, [My Birthday.]
My mother sighed in relief, full of affection, and patted my head.
"Wherever you want to go, we'll all go with you!"
I typed a location, the seaside where our family vacationed ten years ago.
Since it all started there, let it end there too.
Three days later, the family chartered a yacht to celebrate mine and Ann's birthday together.
In the ten years since I was found, at every birthday party, she was always the real protagonist.
Raised with love and care by our parents, doted on by our brother, she knew how to act delicate and win preference from everyone.
But I, having grown up in an orphanage, was reserved and not particularly likable.
This time was no exception.
She deliberately ordered a two-meter-tall cake, then looked at me in my wheelchair with a face full of guilty.
"Isabelle, I'm sorry! I forgot you can't cut the cake with me anymore..."
My mother and father and brother quickly comforted her, saying it wasn't her fault, and let her cut it for me this year.
Amid everyone's blessings, Ann complancently cut the giant cake.
She even cut the figurine of me on top in half in an offensive and inappropriate manner.
Handing me the piece, she whispered in my ear,
"See? Mom, Dad, and Brother all prefer me. If you dare compete with me again, I'll make your end like this doll's!"
For the rest of the time, everyone surrounded Ann Lawrence, congratulating her on her achievements, while subtly throwing disdainful gaze on my way.
My mother and father greeted their friends.
Noticing I was causing them embarrassment, my brother walked over.
"The sea breeze is chilly tonight, Isabelle. Should I wheel you inside to rest?"
Before his hand could touch my wheelchair, Ann stopped him.
"Brother, go entertain our friends. I'll take Isabelle back to her room!"
I wanted to refuse, but couldn't make a sound.
Ann wheeled me to a room around the corner.
It was filled with smoke. Over a dozen masked big men eyed us unfriendly.
She pushed me into their midst, smiling succinctly.
"Isabelle, don't think playing pitiful will let you make a comeback. You can never win against me!"
"You still don't know, do you? Your brother told the doctors to give you dog's vocal cords! Hahaha!"
"From now on, even if you want to sing, you can only bark woof woof!"
Ann's imitation of a dog bark made the big men laugh uproariously.
Seeing the obscene light in their eyes, I trembled, remembering the past torture I'd endured before.
[I'll give you whatever you want. I'm leaving soon anyway. From now on, the Lawrence family will only have one young lady.]
I typed these words tremblingly. Ann read them and laughed even more hysterically.
"Leaving? You're crippled like this. Where could you go?"
"I only trust myself. So, I want to see the whole family reject you with my own eyes!"
With that, she slapped my phone from my hand.
Then, she desperately tore her own gown, messing up her hair.
The next moment, the big men swarmed forward, pressing her to the ground.
"Help—!"
Ann screamed and cried. The door was soon kicked open.
My brother and parents rushed in with their people.
Seeing me unharmed in my wheelchair while Ann was held down by masked men on the ground, struggling and wailing.
"Stop!" My brother's eyes were wide with fury.
My father tried to reason with the masked men. "Ask for anything, just don't hurt my daughters!"
The lead big man's gaze was sharp, his voicewas very low, as if using a voice changer. "This bitch slandered our idol! We want her to pay in blood!"
He pulled an hammer from his clothes, aiming for Ann’s hand.
"Police! Everyone, hands up!"
My father's friends charged in.
The big men released Ann, turned, and leaped through the window into the sea.
The night was too dark. By the time everyone reached the window, the big men had already swum out of sight.
Ann hugged our parents, crying uncontrollably.
"Mom, Dad, don't blame Isabelle. She's just angry that my fans hurt her like that, so she wanted them to teach me a lesson too..."
"It's partly my fault she ended up like this. Please don't blame her anymore!"
A flash of guilt crossed through my brother's eyes, then turned to anger.
"Isabelle! Are you insane?! The people who hurt you had nothing to do with Ann. Why take it out on her!"
My parents' eyes were also full of disappointment and heartbreak.
"It was your fault to begin with, which is why you were abused. Not only do you not repent, How could you still vent your anger on Ann? You are truly malicious!"
They put their arms around the sobbing Ann and turned to leave.
Everyone scolded me a bad seed, an ingrate, advising my parents to cut ties with me.
I tried desperately to mumble, to explain, but was ruthlessly locked in the room.
"Reflect on your actions here properly!"
With those words, my parents had the room locked.
