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Chapter 2

Author: Wake Up
Paula opened her mouth to say something, but I interrupted her, "When I came home, covered in bruises, why didn't any of you ask about me?

"You didn't come to save me. You just took Eden away. You didn't show up after one day, or two, or even after a whole month. Did you really think the abductors would still believe they could get a ransom?"

The more I spoke, the more hurt I felt, and the tears began to fall uncontrollably. This was the surprise that awaited me upon my return to the Sainsbury family.

"If that's the case, then get rid of the child!" My birth father, Dale Sainsbury, slammed his foot down in frustration, and in his rage, he shattered a cup. "Get rid of it. It has to be done!"

No matter whose child this was, they had been asking me to go for an abortion long enough. Every time, I'd resisted with all my strength.

But this time, I changed my mind.

Seeing them still furiously blaming me for embarrassing the Sainsbury family, I spoke coldly, "Fine, I'll go. We'll go to the hospital today."

The room fell into stunned silence at my words. They all stared at me, wide-eyed.

After a long pause, Craig said, "Alright, I'll contact the best doctor right now." His gaze was a little scattered.

"Ouch, my stomach hurts so much!" Eden screamed all of a sudden. Instantly, everyone rushed to her side.

…

I sat alone in the hospital corridor, waiting for Tyree's diagnosis.

"The results are in, Ms. Larson. Where are your family members?" Tyree asked.

"It's fine. I came alone. My parents are getting old. You can just tell me, Dr. Cameron."

"Alright then." Tyree hesitated for a moment before handing me the diagnosis. "You have a grade four brain tumor. The child can't be saved, no matter what. We'll have to…"

I felt a ringing in my ears, as though I had entered another world. I couldn't hear Tyree's further explanations.

Was I going to die? At 20 years old?

I sat there, my grip tightening on the diagnosis, as if holding onto the last thread of my crumbling world.

The entire hospital was filled with the smell of disinfectant. Amid the flowing crowd, anxious or exhausted faces became the backdrop of the moment.

But my eyes were fixed on the paper in my hands. The words on it exuded an undeniable coldness.

Just then, a burst of chaos broke the silence in the hallway.

I turned my gaze toward the sound and saw Craig forcefully push open the double doors before rushing down the corridor.

Eden, pale and clutching her abdomen, was walking slowly behind him.

Dale and Paula stood by her side, with Paula supporting her shoulder and Dale anxiously making a call, seemingly contacting a doctor.

The loving parents were helping their precious daughter. They were the ones who truly loved each other. They were a family supporting one another.

This scene struck me deeply. Some things just couldn't be forced.

I was Cindy Larson, and I didn't belong to the Sainsbury family. I reaffirmed this in my heart.

I shifted slightly, trying to stay out of sight, but it was impossible to avoid their attention. Especially Craig, whose gaze felt like a blade, cutting right through me.

Did he want to eat me alive?

At that instant, it felt like countless unsaid words collided between us, and it all came out as his sharp question.

"What are you doing here? Eden didn't eat or drink because of you, and now her stomach problems flared up. What do you want now?"

I stared at him blankly, as though he were a stranger.

Behind him came Eden's quiet sobs, almost emphasizing each word he had spoken.

"Please, Cindy. Stop hurting Eden. Please!" Paula's voice, tinged with resentment, crushed my already fragile nerves.

"You're all mistaken." I shook my head, almost as if bidding farewell to the family I once belonged to. "I'm not so free that I'd come here to see you."

Perhaps, after everything, the Sainsbury family had become a gradually fading silhouette to me.

After saying that, I walked toward Tyree's office without another word.

The biopsy results came back, confirming a grade four brain tumor. Surgery wouldn't make a difference anymore.

Tyree's voice echoed in that sterile white room.

At that moment, I felt less fear than before. My mind was unusually calm. It was quite different from what I had expected.

First, I would go for an abortion, and then I would start the chemotherapy and follow-up treatments.

In that decisive moment, I felt strangely relieved.

I tucked the diagnosis back into my bag, preparing to admit myself to the hospital.

Just then, Craig appeared again. His accusatory gaze was harsh under the cold hospital lights. "What are you really here for? I won't let you hurt Eden!"

"Move!" I had already made up my mind. Since I was no longer part of the Sainsbury family, I would sever all ties with them completely—just like they had done to me.

Maybe, deep down, I shared the same cold blood they did.

I shrugged off Craig's hand and turned to leave. The anxiety, helplessness, and fear of the uncertain future turned into a complex emotion I couldn't fully describe, but I knew it was real.

I had to fight this battle alone. I no longer expected help from those who never intended to protect me.

Before, I had envied the way my parents and Craig treated Eden, but now I no longer cared.

The noise of the hospital faded away, and all I could hear was the steady beat of my own heart.

Three days later, the abortion procedure took place as scheduled.

That day, the hospital corridor was eerily quiet. There were no relatives filling the space with their endless advice—just the occasional sound of a cart rolling by and soft whispers.

The operating room lights were on. As I lay on the table, I felt the cold sting of the needle and the rapid numbness spreading throughout my body.
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  • The Ugly Truth   Chapter 17

    I arrived at my new home looking bashful. It was the first time I had seen such opulence in my life. My palms grew clammy from the nervousness, and I kept my head low.Craig grabbed my hand. His grasp felt warm. He promised, "Don't worry. I'll protect you. You will be my little sister from now on."I was granted a new name—Eden. The Sainsbury family loved me, and I loved them too. I especially liked being around Craig because he gave me a sense of security I had never experienced before.Craig offered me a cartoon plushie as a gift, but I threw it out because I thought it was ugly. The reason it looked ugly to me was that I spotted another young girl in the family's photos holding the exact same plushie.I had only seen that photo once, but it burned into my memories. A sensitive and timid soul, I held onto these memories tightly.The Sainsbury family must have selected me for a good reason. Every time I threw out the plushie, Craig would buy me an identical one, claiming it was

  • The Ugly Truth   Chapter 16

    Unfortunately, a tall young man stood in my way. He was Craig Sainsbury, Cindy's older brother.Craig snapped at me, "Do not stay in touch with Cindy anymore! You're not good enough for her!"I squirmed in shame when Craig scanned me from head to toe with disdain.I insisted, "I want to meet with Cindy. I'll marry her when we're grown up. Get lost!"Still a minor, I hurled a weak punch in Craig's way, which he breezily intercepted. "Cindy Larson is a daughter of the Sainsbury family. A poor guy like you cannot offer her anything. Do not remind her of her old life."I will take good care of my little sister and make her the happiest princess in this world. You and Cindy are different, and your paths will not cross. Just give up."Craig left me a bank card and left. I furiously yelled after him while wiping away my tears, "Keep your word, Craig Sainsbury! Return Cindy to me if you can't keep that promise!"I bellowed until I was spent. Staring at the bank card on the floor, I de

  • The Ugly Truth   Chapter 15

    I started to worry that Mom would never pay me any attention again. When Dad asked if I wanted to go with him to adopt a sister from the orphanage, I agreed without hesitation. I silently vowed never to abandon my new sister; that I'd protect her.My previous plan had failed spectacularly. Without Amy, our family was no longer the same. I wallowed and nearly drowned in regret. Often, I'd wake up in the middle of the night from nightmares, but I refused to reveal anything when my parents asked about it, as I was afraid I'd lose everything.I prayed hard that Amy would come home. I had surrendered to fate. I promised to be her bodyguard, protecting her at all times.My anxiety did not stop until a year later, on the 24th of April—the one-year mark of Amy's disappearance—a lovely young girl entered my life. She took Amy's place.After she joined our family, Mom's mood improved significantly. We named her Eden and decided that her birthday would fall on the 24th of April. Every year,

  • The Ugly Truth   Chapter 14

    "Come here." I closed my eyes and gave Kevin a kiss on his moist lips.Perhaps, this was the beginning of my farewell. …I believed it was time to get my affairs in order. Kevin was perhaps the only person I trusted.So, I instructed Kevin to sell off the house of my adoptive parents after I passed away and to bury me next to their graves.The profits from selling the house would be donated to cancer patients. On top of that, I planned to donate my corneas. I wanted to see the world in another way.Since I had no offspring or family, after some deliberation, I decided there was no need to bid farewell to anyone.…The weather was sunny on the day I passed away, which was rare for early spring weather. Unfortunately, I did not make it past the one-year mark, as the cancer spread fast.After falling into a coma for three days, I stirred awake, looking exceptionally spirited. "Kevin, I want to meet with Craig."Stunned, Kevin nonetheless agreed to it. In my moments of termina

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