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Chapter 5

作者: Carbonacid
My words had barely formed when Bobby cut me off. "That's enough. I don't want to hear any of your excuses. Apologize to Audrey. Now."

My fingernails dug deep into my palms, the sharp sting of pain barely registering as blood stained the medals red.

"I didn't do anything wrong. I just wanted to take Mom and Dad's medals with me on this mission. It was Audrey who tried to take them from me."

Bobby's eyes flicked to the drops of blood hitting the floor, his brows tightening. For a moment, I thought he might finally be on my side.

But then Audrey spoke.

"Bobby, aren't we going to Cranburn? I just thought… since that's where Mom and Dad fell in love, I wanted to bring the medals to witness it too."

Her voice was soft, her words carefully chosen. And just like that, whatever flicker of doubt Bobby had was gone.

"Bella, I don't think Audrey's wrong here. Today marks thirty years since Mom and Dad got together. Let her have the medals."

I said nothing. The medals remained tight in my grasp. I knew the moment I let them go, I'd never see them again.

Marie, who had seen enough, stepped forward to speak on my behalf.

"Bobby, Bella's going far away on this assignment. Master Ross used to say that medals would protect Bella. Let her take them."

Her words didn't soothe anything. If anything, they poured oil onto the fire.

"Bella, just admit you're petty if you are. Don't hide behind this 'dangerous mission' excuse. You're a doctor. What kind of danger could you possibly face?"

He stormed over, prying my fingers open one by one, uncaring of the blood that flowed freely from the cuts on my palm.

"If you're packing your things, then do it properly. Get out of this house. Now. How did our family end up with a daughter as narrow-minded as you?"

The blood smeared across my suitcase as I dragged it out. I didn't look back. I didn't respond. I had no words left.

'Bobby, I've given up on your love. Let Audrey take my place. Let her walk beside you for the rest of your life,' I thought bitterly.

Just as I reached the front door, Adam ran up from his car, panting.

"Bella, what happened to you?"

Marie quickly filled him in, and the anger on his face was instant.

"That damn Audrey—what right does she have to carry Mr. Ross's medal?"

He handed me a folder. Just as I suspected, everything was in there.

I had barely closed the file when Adam grabbed my wrist, ready to storm back in.

"Bobby, do you even realize that Audrey is the last person who deserves to be in this family? All these years, you've been feeding a wolf, and now you're turning on your own sister!"

Bobby's fury exploded. Without hesitation, he raised his hand to strike Adam.

"Don't!" I rushed forward and took the hit in Adam's place.

My face stung, swelling instantly. The outline of five fingers was stark against my skin.

"Bella, are you okay?"

Bobby stood frozen. I gave Adam a small shake of the head, hinting to him not to say anything.

"Take me away," I said softly.

From behind Bobby, Audrey peeked out, holding the medals high like a trophy, basking in her victory.

I didn't get the medals.

I didn't win.

All I could do was run.

'Mom. Dad. Your little girl has no one left to protect her,' I thought miserably.

Bobby stood at the door, watching silently as I loaded my suitcase into the car.

His lips moved, forming words I couldn't quite hear.

"Bella, are you really doing this again? Running away every time something doesn't go your way? If you leave now, don't expect me to forgive you next time."

'But Bobby, there won't be a next time.'

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  • After I Was Gone   Chapter 9

    Overwhelmed with rage and grief, Bobby coughed up a mouthful of blood."Audrey," he choked out, his voice shaking, "I treated you like my own sister, and you..."Audrey let out a cold snort and rolled her eyes at him."Like a real sister? Wasn't Bella your actual sister? And didn't you scold her so harshly that she ran away and died overseas? All these years, not once did you stand by her. If she hated you, could you blame her?"The words struck like a knife. Bobby swayed, nearly collapsing from the pain.He dropped to his knees before my honor medal and slapped himself, again and again."Bella… I was wrong. I failed you. I failed you..."With Audrey's confession and the evidence laid bare, the law had its course to follow.Adam took her to the police station, leaving Bobby alone in the cold silence, clutching the charred remains of my photo, steeped in remorse.Justice found its way to Audrey. Bobby resigned and hadn't left the house in weeks. At his request, Marie began cl

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    Audrey lost our parents' medals.That day, it was as if Bobby had lost his soul. He retraced every step he'd taken, searched every place he could think of, but they were nowhere.It was only then that he began to realize Audrey wasn't as fragile and pitiful as she appeared.Over the past six months, she'd ruled the household like a tyrant. She even tried to sell off my belongings from our house. If Marie hadn't told Bobby in time, everything I left behind might've been sold off too.That day, he snapped at her again.The sweet, obedient Audrey he used to know had turned into a selfish, arrogant brat.'Bobby, how I wish I could tell you—Audrey is a devil straight from hell. She didn't just bring about the deaths of her own parents; she dragged ours down with them,' my soul muttered sadly.Since I died, Bobby had been spiraling. Sometimes, when Adam visited, he would talk with him briefly.Audrey, unused to being ignored, started looking at my photo with venom in her eyes."Bell

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  • After I Was Gone   Chapter 5

    My words had barely formed when Bobby cut me off. "That's enough. I don't want to hear any of your excuses. Apologize to Audrey. Now."My fingernails dug deep into my palms, the sharp sting of pain barely registering as blood stained the medals red."I didn't do anything wrong. I just wanted to take Mom and Dad's medals with me on this mission. It was Audrey who tried to take them from me."Bobby's eyes flicked to the drops of blood hitting the floor, his brows tightening. For a moment, I thought he might finally be on my side.But then Audrey spoke."Bobby, aren't we going to Cranburn? I just thought… since that's where Mom and Dad fell in love, I wanted to bring the medals to witness it too."Her voice was soft, her words carefully chosen. And just like that, whatever flicker of doubt Bobby had was gone."Bella, I don't think Audrey's wrong here. Today marks thirty years since Mom and Dad got together. Let her have the medals."I said nothing. The medals remained tight in my

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    I set down my fork and fled in a hurry. The happiness between the two of them felt like an arrow—cold and precise—aimed straight at me.When news came of our parents' deaths, Bobby had held me close and promised, "Bella, don't worry. I'll protect you for the rest of your life. I'll take Mom and Dad's place. I'll walk you down the aisle someday."But after Audrey came into our home, I became a girl without a family.I spent the night at the hospital and didn't return. Not a single message showed up on my phone—not a word of concern from Bobby. He didn't care.Before we left, the director reminded us to say goodbye to our families. If there were things we couldn't say out loud, we could write a farewell letter instead.After I wrapped up the paperwork at the hospital, I had to head back home to pack a few documents and clothes.In my room, I held my housekeeper, Marie—the woman who had raised me—and told her goodbye.She was the only one who knew I was leaving the country on a rescu

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