Chapter 2: Broken Ties

“You know what I hate most about you?” Elliot’s voice thundered, loud enough to pierce through the silent air. His eyes were blazing with disgust. “It’s not even that you’re useless. It’s that you never admit you’re pulling flashy stunts for attention!”

His words cut deep, sharper than the slap that was still burning on her cheek.

Julia stood there, her chest rising and falling, her whole body trembling.

Elliot didn’t stop. “You have nothing in your head, Julia. No sense of responsibility, no purpose, nothing! You don’t even deserve to be my sister. You’re not worth my attention!”

Julia’s throat tightened. She blinked hard, forcing back the tears that had already betrayed her once.

She wiped her face with the back of her hand, the taste of humiliation bitter on her lips. Still, she said nothing.

She turned, wanting to walk away from both of them, but Bosco grabbed her arm again. His grip was firm, controlling.

“Enough of this drama,” he said, glaring at her. “Elliot hit you because he cares. If it were someone else, he wouldn’t have wasted his time. Stop acting like a victim and get into the car. We’re already late. The family is waiting for us to celebrate Bella’s birthday.”

Julia turned back to him, her lips curving into a small, bitter smile. “My family?” she asked, her voice low, shaking slightly. “I don’t have any family left, Bosco. I’m just a murderer who doesn’t have the guts to face what she’s done, right?”

Bosco looked away for a second, uneasy. But she could tell he wasn’t feeling guilt, just irritation.

***********

Three months ago, at the hospital, where Lisa was admitted,

Julia was on her knees, on the cold white floor of the emergency ward, tears streaming down her face. “Dad, please, I’m innocent!” she cried. “It was Bella who hit Lisa! She was drunk, driving too fast. Please, believe me!”

Her father, Gavin Reynolds, stood there, expression hard as stone. Then, before Julia would know it, his hand connected on her cheek in a resounding slap.

The sound rang through the hallway.

Julia froze, her face turned to the side from the impact.

“You were the one driving, brat!” he shouted, pointing at her with trembling fingers. “Your hands are still stained with blood, and you dare to frame Bella? You’re unworthy of being my daughter!”

Julia shook her head, falling forward to hold his feet. “Dad, please! I’m telling the truth!”

But her mother, Megan Reynolds, stepped forward, her voice cutting like a knife. “Bella was with me last night, watching TV. Don’t you dare frame her for your nonsense.”

Julia’s eyes widened. “Mum, that’s impossible! You’re lying! The dashcam, yes, the dashcam! It recorded everything!”

But before she could finish, Elliot’s voice boomed across the room. “We don’t need any dashcam footage!”

Julia looked up at him in disbelief. “Elliot?”

He ignored her shock and turned to the policemen standing nearby. “I’m a lawyer,” he said coldly. “And I witnessed everything myself. Julia Reynolds was the one driving. I can testify in court against her.”

“Elliot, no!” Julia cried, crawling towards him. “You’re —”

“Don’t say my name!” Elliot’s roar silenced the entire room. He pointed a trembling finger at her. “You’re a murderer. And no sister of mine.”

He turned to the officers. “Take her away.”

Julia screamed as they grabbed her arms. “Dad! Mum! Please, don’t let them take me away!” But they didn’t move. They just stood there, watching.

And Bella, sitting quietly on the bench, smirked, satisfied.

**********

“You’re not done with your mind games yet?” Elliot’s voice dragged her back to the present, snapping her out of her thoughts. “You think you can fool us again with your pity act? Let me tell you something, Julia, lack of evidence doesn’t mean you’re off the hook. As long as Lisa Collins doesn’t wake up and clear you, you’ll always be guilty to us!”

Julia’s lips trembled. Then she nodded slowly, a faint smile spreading across her face, a sad one, tired, broken.

“You’re right,” she said softly. “I’m guilty. I’m guilty of believing this family still had space for me. I’m guilty of calling you my brothers. I’m guilty of ever wanting your approval.”

She took a deep breath, the air stinging her chest. Her voice was steady now as she faced them both.

“Gentlemen, all of you may leave. From now on, I’m cutting all ties with the Reynolds family. We’re done for good.”

Her words hung heavy in the air. Even the wind seemed to stop for a second.

Bosco’s eyes darkened. “Julia, enough!” he barked, grabbing her arm once more. “You really think threatening to cut ties will make us feel for you? We’re not falling for your acts anymore. Get into the car, Julia. This is the only chance you have to act normal again.”

They waited for her reply.

But Julia was done.

She jerked her arm away from his grip, her strength surprising both of them. Then she turned sharply and started walking down the lonely road, her steps fast and uneven.

“Are you now that desperate for attention?” Bosco’s voice rang from behind.

She halted briefly, her back still to them, before she continued walking again, not looking back this time.

“Fine!” Bosco’s voice echoed, loud and furious. “Suit yourself! Just don’t come back later begging for forgiveness!”

He turned to Elliot. “Let’s go.”

Elliot clenched his jaw, fuming, but said nothing. He entered the car, slammed the door, and started the engine.

As they drove off, Elliot pressed the accelerator harder, the tires screeching against the road. The car sped past Julia, brushing dangerously close to her.

She stumbled, falling to her knees by the roadside.

“Elliot!” Bosco shouted, his eyes wide in shock. He reached for the door, wanting to open it, but then stopped himself. He looked away.

The car sped off into the distance, disappearing from sight.

Julia lay on the ground, her palms pressed into the cold dirt. She coughed, pain rising from her chest to her throat.

Her voice came out low, trembling with anger and hurt. “You Reynolds…” She looked in the direction the car had gone. “Those three months in jail were me paying you back for giving me life. From now on, we’re done. I owe you nothing!”

Her chest heaved, her vision spinning. Suddenly, she coughed again, and a dark stream of blood spilled from her mouth, staining the ground beneath her.

Just then, headlights flashed across her face as another two cars screeched to a stop beside her - two 2026 SUV model, sleek and shining.

The driver’s door flew open.

A tall man in a navy coat stepped out quickly, his eyes filled with shock and fear.

“Sheldon Hurst!” Julia gasped weakly as he rushed towards her. The name escaped her lips before she could even think.

“Julia!” he shouted, running towards her. His voice was filled with panic. “Julia, Julia!”

He knelt beside her, lifting her head gently, his hands trembling. “Julia, what happened to you?!”

But Julia’s eyes were already rolling back, the blood still trickling from her lips as the breeze swallowed the sound of his desperate voice.