Chapter 2: I'm back!

Brrr, brrr, brrr! The alarm sounded. It was morning already. I stretched out my right hand to hit the the alarm.

My eyes that were blurry from sleep.. flew open the moment I recalled what had happened to me.

I jumped from the bed.

Wait a minute.

I can move?

But how?

my heart pounded.

Was it a dream? No, it couldn't be. I was pushed down the stairs. I felt my bones break. I was sure I had died.

how am I alive? My heart pounded further.

I rushed to the mirror, ran my hands over my head.

my breath hitched.

There were faint red lines on my neck.

bruises that hadn't been there before. The exact spot where Adrian had grabbed me.

I snatched up my phone to check the date. It was today, but the timestamp was minutes before the "accident" happened.

I rushed out of my room, only to find Annie standing by the stairs, with that same fake smile curling on her lips.

My chest tightened.

I wasn't crazy; or hallucinating!

it was all happening again.

"Hello, sister," she waved. I swallowed hard and tried to turn back, but she lunged forward and grabbed my arm.

"Are you avoiding me?"she grinned.

"Annie, let go," I said, my voice cold.

"I’m not interested in your drama today."

I yanked my arm away and started to head down, but her voice stopped me.

"How does it feel, having someone else take your position? The love, the care you once enjoyed..."

I turned to her with a smirk.

" Let me guess you want to flaunt that diamond necklace Adrian got for you, right?" I asked.

something flickered in her eyes.

"How... how do you know about that?" she stuttered.

"Don’t worry about how, honey. Just know that your little scheme won’t work today.”."I hissed the words, but she responded with a creepy, jagged smile.

"I don't know how you found out, but let’s see if it works anyway."she whispered.

Before I could blink, she rushed down, ripped the necklace, and used the sharp metal to slice her own arm.

I chuckled, arms folded, watching her perform.

And with a loud scream, she threw herself to the floor.

Footsteps thundered from every direction—Mom, Adrian, and the cleaner.

"Oh my God!" Mom cried, rushing to Annie’s side. Adrian followed, panic etched on his face.

"Mom…" Annie whimpered, clutching her arm.

"She… she pushed me…" She pointed a trembling finger at me.

All eyes snapped upward.

"How dare you!" Adrian roared, charging up the stairs just as expected.

"Are you trying to kill her? Answer me, you witch!" He grabbed my shoulders and shook me violently.

I scoffed and violently shoved his hands off me.

His eyes twitched in shock immediately.

"There’s no use telling you she’s faking, because you’re all blinded by her lies," I thundered, flipped my hair backwards, making sure it hit Adrian on the face.

"But I’ll say it once: I didn’t do it. She’s putting on a show."

Then..

The cleaner stepped forward, clutching her apron just as expected..

"She d—"

"I did it, You’re going to say you saw me push Miss Annie right? Isn't...she paid you, right?" I squared, the cleaner’s mouth hung open, but no words came out

I rolled my eyes at her.

Marched down, grabbed Annie by the wrist, and yanked her up from mom.

" What are you doing!?" Mom shouted, but I didn’t stop. Step by step, I dragged Annie back to the top.

Adrian and Mom scrambled after us, shouting for me to stop.

I reached the top of the stairs, held Annie over the railing, my grip the only thing keeping her from falling. She stopped struggling instantly, her face turning pale.

"You told them I pushed you, right?"I asked with Conner of my lips, she shook her head trembling and cling tightly to my hand, her only support.

"Maybe I should just let go so I can actually be guilty of what you're accusing me of." I grinned dangerously.

"Don..don't, please"she shuttered.

"Let go of her, witch!" Adrian shouted...as he shoot closer.

I turn to Annie with raised brows. "He told me to let go. Should I?"

"No... no.. don't let go. please!" she begged, her hands trembling on mine, I chuckled, enjoying the sight before me, who would've thought that she could beg?

"I thought so."

I saw Adrian reaching for me, so I shoved Annie back toward him. She fell into his arms, sobbing, and Adrian held her like a piece of precious glass.

Mom bundled Annie into her arms and led her down to the couch. I followed slowly, my hands folded.

I knew what was coming but I stood still waiting for every inch. Mom marched up to me and delivered a slap across my face, it was so hard that my lips bursted, I didn't flinch. I didn't cry. I just stood frozen waiting for her next action.

"Mom, she's evil. She doesn't deserve to be in this family," Adrian spat, with his hand still wrapped around Annie.

Mom said nothing, but the moment Annie whimpered."Mom, I’m scared..."

That one word—scared—snapped something into her.

She grabbed my arm and began dragging me toward the front door. I didn't fight back.

I knew my time in this house was over, but it stung to be thrown out by the person I grew up to love..as I was been dragged out, my eyes caught the victorious smile on Annie's face.

I wish I can rip that smile off her face.

On getting to door, mom paused, glared at me viciously.

"Who knows if it was your evil heart that killed your parents?..take that evil self of yours and get out of my house!"

"I reject you as my daughter from this day forth!" She spat, and shoved me out into the pouring rain.

I stumbled and fell onto the wet pavement. It all happened like a dream, been chased out of the only place I call a home..I let out a jagged chuckle, my tears mixing with the rain.

I looked back at her, with my hands clutching tightly to the butterfly pendant on my neck.

"Thank you," I whispered.

"At least this is better than death." I smiled, She scoffed and slammed the door in my face.

I stood there for a moment, a tiny part of me hoping the door would reopen and she would tell me to come in that she believed me.

I stood there waiting, drenched, but no one came...

"Mom, don't do this! Don't drive her out like this,not without cash or clothes..she has no place to go, how would she survive!" I heard Annie’s fake, high-pitched voice through the door.

"You're too kind Annie,, but she doesn't deserve to be here. She's a monster!" Adrian replied.

I shook my head. Reality hit me hard, but I wouldn't break. Only the weak break. I would be back, and when I return, I would claim everything they took from me.

I glance at the mansion, memories flashed in, but I quickly shook them off and walked out of the gate.

I walked down the lonely estate road, left in my own thoughts.

Where do I go?

Who do I turn to?

how do I survive?

Lost in thought, I didn't see the parked car in front of me until I walked right into its bumper. I staggered and fell back into the mud. Anger exploded in my chest.

I don't know if it was because I don't have where to go?

Or

because I fell, but one thing in me feel like transferring All my aggression on the car.

I scrambled up and began kicking the car, screaming that one name that caused me everything at the top of my lungs, transferring all my aggression into the metal.

Suddenly, a hand clamped onto my arm and I was thrown to the ground. Pain flared through my body. I looked up to see men in black suits surrounding me. There, I realized that I hadn't just kicked a car; I had attacked the lead vehicle of a massive, high-end convoy.

Panic replaced the anger and frustration in me.

What if I am asked to pay for the damages done on the car?

No, I need to escape.

Just as I was about standing.

The back door of the main car opened. A man dressed in an expensive black silk stepped out.

He was massive with broad shoulders giving him anime look.

His face partially masked with a black laced mask that covers his nostrils down to his jaw.

He approached me and clutch down to my level.

I wanted to push him and run away but his hand suddenly reached out to my necklace.

I froze.

Then, his other hand slowly went for my palm like someone searching for something.

"Wh..what are you.."

He suddenly lean forward, and whispered into my ear.

"Marry me."

.