Chapter 3
Greg looked nervous, gripping my wrist tightly without realizing it.
“Everly, don’t overthink it. On my way to the company, I spotted Ayleen with a sprained ankle. She’s your sister, so I had to carry her back and make sure your parents could look after her.”
It was ironic. I hadn’t even said a word, yet he was already telling me not to overthink it.
I yanked my wrist free, wincing from the pain of his grip, and replied calmly, “You don’t need to explain. I understand.”
Anyway, I couldn’t count on his love and loyalty anymore.
Greg hesitated, on the verge of explaining further, but my mother cut in, “Everly, quit playing the victim in front of Greg–it’s nauseating! Ayla is your sister, so what if Greg helped her back after she sprained her ankle? If you’re too heartless to care for Ayla, do you expect no one else to show a shred of decency?”
I hung my head, overwhelmed by a sense of injustice, and despite it all, I actually chuckled.
Greg appeared as if he wanted to say something, but after glancing between me and my mother, he
remained silent.
The only one who could stand up for me was myself. I locked eyes with my mother and declared, “Since you’ve never treated me like your daughter, why should I consider Ayleen my sister?”
My mother looked taken aback by my retort, her fingers trembling as she pointed at me. She stuttered for what felt like an eternity before finally lashing out by hurling a fruit box in my
direction.
The toothpicks embedded in the fruit slashed my face, and the warm liquid trickled down my cheek.
I touched it. It was blood.
I opened my eyes to see Greg stepping in front of Ayleen.
It was because the lightweight plastic fruit box had nearly struck her.
Everyone first checked if Ayleen was hurt.
They only took notice of my bleeding face once they had assured themselves that she was fine.
Greg was about to check my wound, but Ayleen began to sob uncontrollably.
“It’s okay, I’m just scared,” Ayleen murmured, casting a pitiful glance. “Everly is bleeding. You should go tend to her. Don’t worry about me.”
With that casual remark, all attention shifted away from my wound.
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Everyone rallied to comfort the weeping Ayleen. My father, distressed by her tears, turned his
frustration on me.
“Everly, you didn’t massage Ayla properly and ended up scaring her into tears! I’ll give you a beating to teach you a lesson!”
After uttering those words, my father hurled a coffee pot in my direction.
I was hit, and my head started bleeding. The blood mixed with hot coffee flowed down my forehead,
covering my face.
I could imagine how messy I looked.
Greg seemed unable to bear it and helped me up.
“Mr. Olson, Everly understands she’s in the wrong. I’ll make sure she apologizes to Ayleen. Let’s
just let this go.”
I sneered under my messy hair.
Apologize to Ayleen? What did I do wrong?
Or was my existence a mistake?
My father dismissed it, saying, “Apologize? That’s not enough! She needs a good beating to set her straight! Greg, this is my family affair–mind your own business and don’t interfere!”
Confronted with my father’s menacing demeanor, Greg maintained his composure, exuding the
authority he wielded within his company.
“As Everly’s fiancé, I have to protect her! Mr. Olson, I cannot stand by and watch you hit her.”
After saying that, Greg gently brushed the hair dampened by sweat from my face.
“Everly, I’ll take you home.”
Witnessing my father’s rage, my mother quickly intervened.
“Greg, Ayleen really misses Everly. I asked her to come back, but she threw such a fit. We can’t just let her leave like this. Look, she doesn’t even need to apologize. If she just licks up the coffee she spilled on the floor, I’ll let it go.”
Greg frowned, on the verge of refusing on my behalf because it was clear my mother was trying to
humiliate me, but Ayleen interjected.
“Greg, this coffee spill has made the room all damp, and my ankle is hurting even more now.”
Greg’s words, meant to defend me, remained unspoken.
He looked at me, hesitating.
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“Everly, Ayleen has a sprained ankle, maybe you…”
He didn’t finish, but his gaze showed his stance.
