Trapped

I did not react and met Paul’s gaze flatly when my mother and Ashley appeared shortly after, arms intertwined. I saw them, and a pang of hurt settled down in my chest.

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“Mia, you come.” Ashley left my mother's side and walked to me with a bright smile. “Thank god. You are fine. You know how worried we were when we learned you fainted.”

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A sharp, mocking laugh escaped my lips before I even realised it. “What did you just say? Worried for me? Was that some kind of joke? Because if I remember, you all left me behind to feed yourselves while I fainted from starvation in my bed.” My eyes landed on her sharply before moving to my mother and brother, who couldn’t handle the accusation and instantly lost their composure.

“Mia! Stop being dramatic. It’s you who don’t want to apologise.” Paul argued.

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“So, leaving me to die is also coming into punishment?” I interjected coldly.

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“How dare you blame your family? You are the one who was arrogant enough to force us to do such strict punishment. Now don’t act pitiful.” Paul walked up to me, full of rage, and pointed his finger at me.

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I wanted to break his finger, but restrained myself when Ashley burst into tears, and I felt frustrated, thinking, doesn’t she have anything else to do than cry every single time?

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“Mia, I know you are angry, but stop hurting my family. This is all my fault.”

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“I should never have touched your thing, or else you would not have been punished, and things would not have turned this bad!”

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“Ashley, stop crying.” Paul held her shoulder. “You did nothing. This is all her fault.” He raised his head and flashed a cruel look at me, like he wanted to tear me apart for his lovely sister.

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“No, brother! It’s my fault! Everything is my fault. I should die!” Ashley breathed hard, attempting to control her nonstop fake tears before looking at me. “Sister, I will apologise.”

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“Ashley!’ Paul shouted in anger, but I avoided him, crossed my arms, lifting my chin to meet my sister’s eyes.

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“So, finally, you are accepting this is all you're doing? Then apologise.” I smiled sarcastically, leaving her stunned while Paul's expression scowled. “You woman! You truly don’t deserve to be our sister. You have such a black heart that I regret that you are one of the Smiths.”

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“Paul, don’t say that!” Ashley held him up, pretending to care.

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“No, Ashley, how dare she! To blame you when she is the reason you fell ill last night. She doesn’t deserve you as a sister!”

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“Paul!” Ashley shouted with shaking breath, “I know she hated me, but still I loved her because she is my elder sister. The woman I admired always after my mother. So, how could I not feel unwell after learning she was in the hospital?”

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“See! She still cares about you!” Paul’s jaw tightened, and his hand turned into a fist.

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I had already faced this kind of scenario countless times, and the most coincidental thing was that she fell sick only after I did.

Based on the past and present, anyone could guess it’s not a coincidence. But a completely calculated plot against me. To deliberately target me.

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She always thrived on showing me how powerful she was in this home, while, despite having my own family, I was left completely helpless.

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As I was predicting what would come next, Paul’s words fell right above me.

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“Apologise to her.”

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“Brother!”

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“No, Ashley! She needs to do it, or else I will refuse to accept her as my sister from now on.”

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He met my gaze arrogantly, waiting for me to shed tears like before and apologise to save our relationship.

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At the time, yes, I was innocent enough to think my brother loved me; even though he was angry, he cared. But now, I hate him more than my parents, because he always bullied me for Ashley.

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He never took my side and even listened to me once. He always saw me as an extra stranger and a fool. So, what do his words mean anymore?

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“Did you hear me? Now apologise.” He crossed his arms, trying to look powerful, but I stayed in my spot, without showing a flicker of emotion and responded in a sharp tone, “Alright. Let’s do it.”

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“What did you just say?” Paul froze, his expression ashen, but I spoke again boldly, “I said, let’s treat each other as strangers until we stay on the same roof.”

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​Paul turned speechless while Ashley stared at me with a bewildered look. I knew she was trying to read my mind and what plot I was creating, but she could never find that, because I didn’t have one from the beginning.

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After knowing they left nothing to dwell on, I stared at my mother, who suddenly appeared and slapped me.

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I raised my head emotionlessly, my cheeks stinging and hurting from the fresh scratch left by her ring right there.

“You brat!”

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“You truly know how to disgrace our family, don't you? Aren’t you?” She scoffed, “I regret the day I gave birth to you. Why did you not die the same day?”

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My chest ached, but tears were not ready to slip before them. No matter how deeply it cut my soul. I held my head high as I met her gaze, almost challenging her words. To prove it right from now on.

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“If this is your wise thinking, then I hope you regret it more from now on, Mother…”

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The room fell silent.

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I watched them shaking with rage, wanted to speak more, but I ignored them and walked into my bedroom.

And…I had almost succeeded in locking the door when Ashley’s hand pushed, forcing it open. “Sister, stop.”

“Don’t call me that!” I jerked her hand, frustrated to lock it again, when suddenly, she did something terrifying.

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“Sister, please listen to me.”

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She shoved her hand straight between the door frame, and it got slammed before I could notice and stop it.

The moment I realised what she did and let go of the door, she almost let out a piercing scream, instantly pulling her injured hand back in pain.

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