Chapter 2

The moment I agreed, I had already decided to leave forever. The love of my family and my mate no longer belonged to me. Since that was the case, I would let Naomi have it all.

I made up my mind to pack my things and go.

Meanwhile, the four men exhaled in relief at my words, their expressions softening with satisfaction.

"Stay with Naomi for now. We'll get her room ready," William said gently before hurrying upstairs with my three brothers.

I wanted to refuse, but the words caught in my throat.

Only after their footsteps faded upstairs did Naomi saunter over. A triumphant smile played on her lips as she mocked, "Well? Even after three years away and all the mistakes I've made, they still love me the same."

She leaned closer, a cruel smile twisting her lips.

"But you'll always be the pathetic one nobody wants, Pat."

I stepped back and said calmly, "I never wanted to fight you for anything. If it's their love you want, it's yours."

Naomi snickered. "They've always loved me. You were nothing but a stand-in!"

Then, she pulled out a crystal vial and swooped in front of me. "Tell me—when they see this, will they believe me or you?"

Before I could respond, Naomi pinned me down on the couch. Her strength was far beyond what a patient should have.

She poured the entire vial of silver nitrate into my mouth without hesitation. As I struggled, a few drops landed on the back of her hand.

In a flash, she flung the vial aside and collapsed to the floor, letting out a piercing scream. "It hurts!"

A gust of wind swept past me as the men teleported into the living room. When they saw Naomi's hand burned by the silver nitrate, their expressions darkened instantly.

William was the first to reach her, and a blast of air from his motion sent me crashing to the floor. Yet, he didn't spare me a single glance. All his focus was on her hand.

The silver nitrate burned through my insides, and I curled into a ball on the floor. I couldn't even speak.

Anthony shot me a cold look. "Naomi just came back today. She never intended to compete with you for anything. Why can't you just accept her?"

I gritted my teeth against the torment wracking my body and forced myself to say, "It was Naomi! She forced the silver nitrate into me…"

Suddenly, Naomi burst into loud sobs. "Why can't you accept me, Pat? I'm already poisoned with silver nitrate. I don't have much time left. Why would you hurt me?"

Caleb held her close, but when he looked at me, there was no warmth in his gaze.

"That's enough, Patricia! Look at her. Do you really think she has the strength to get silver nitrate and use it against you?"

A wave of hopelessness crashed over me. All my life, Naomi had found every chance to frame me. She always played the innocent victim in front of our brothers, making everyone believe I was the cruel one.

No matter how I explained myself before, no one ever believed me. But this time, I wanted to try to defend myself.

The affection they had given me over the past three years gave me a flicker of hope. Maybe Anthony, Bradley, Caleb, and William would believe me this once.

So, I forced myself to reach for the crystal vial. "I'm not lying. If you don't believe me, see for yourselves—"

But before I could touch it, Bradley gripped my wrist tightly.

"Enough!" he snapped. "Patricia Jenkins, how could you be so cruel? Naomi is your sister, and she's poisoned. Why would you harm her with silver nitrate?"

By then, Caleb had scooped Naomi into his arms. "Let's take her to the healing sanctuary. She needs the antidote!"

Just like that, the four men rushed out with Naomi. Not one of them turned back to look at me.

"It's true… I've been poisoned with silver nitrate," I whispered.

I collapsed to the floor as the silver nitrate spread through me, my vision growing hazy.

Just then, my maid, Daisy York, rushed over. Panic was written all over her face, and her terrified screams rang in my ears. But my consciousness was already fading.