Semua Bab Six Years, One Big Lie: Bab 1 - Bab 10

Dad slid in on my left, all casual. "Why'd you come alone? Everything okay?"Mom leaned her head on my shoulder, smiling soft. "She's grown up. Worrying about us now."Dad faked a grumble and pinched my cheek. "Still—don't come here alone again, got it?"Perfect moment.I slipped my recording phone into his pocket. "I know, I know. I messed up. Can you hold my phone while I get checked?"So normal, so smooth—they didn't blink.At the OB-GYN department, I walked in solo.They stood by the door, smiling, waving, full of fake concern.I used to think I had the best family in the world.Now? It felt like being wrapped in snakes—tight, cold, and ready to strike."Doctor, how is she?" Mom rushed over with my report the second we were done.Dad pulled out his little notebook which recorded all my preferences and restrictions like it meant something.To anyone watching, they looked like the perfect, doting parents—if only they knew."Dad, Mom, I need the restroom," I said, voice l

Hearing him echo Mom's words, I thought, to them, Sharon already paid the price. So I almost dying was just karma?I dropped my gaze, letting the silence speak.Chuck caught it. First time he looked at me like that—cold. "Yasmine, Coraline's getting old. Why the attitude?"It's been six years. You took Sharon's life and ran with it for over twenty. You can't blame Coraline. Blood's blood. A mom never really lets go of her kid."Honestly, Sebastian and Coraline always owed Sharon. Remember that house in the suburbs they saved for her? I'll take them there this weekend. Call it a tribute. You don't have to come."He made it sound like a choice, but it wasn't. I looked at them—Chuck, frosty. My parents? Dead quiet. But I got the message loud and clear. Say no, and I'm the villain."Alright. Go. She was your real daughter. I was part of the mess too. Makes sense to pay respects."I said it cool, like I was fine.Chuck lit up. "Knew you were the sweetest. Don't worry, I'll make your

Over at the other villa, Chuck was still riding the high of soon-to-be fatherhood. Sharon grabbed his hand, pressing it to her belly, eyes sparkling."Feel that? He's almost here. When can I come home? I'm tired of hiding. I just wanna be with you again—and actually be a daughter to Mom and Dad this time."Tears started pooling. Coraline spun around and hugged her, full of sympathy."Just hang in there. Yasmine's a grudge-holder, but if we keep pushing, she'll cave. When it's time, we'll say you escaped Nyamara after six brutal years. She won't blame you."Sebastian nodded. "Exactly."Sharon crossed her arms, scowling. "I'm your real daughter. I'm carrying your actual grandkid. All that old evidence is gone. Why shouldn't I come back? That stab? Please. Compared to what she's stolen from us, it's barely a scratch."She shot Chuck a pouty look. "Tell me I'm wrong."Before he could answer, a ringtone cut through the room. Everyone froze.Unknown number. Chuck exhaled, picked up,

"The shamelessness of the Adelsons is wild," the neighbor said, flashing his phone. "Don't worry—I recorded everything. If anything happens to Yasmine, the cops will be knocking on your door first."He adjusted his sleeves, smirking. "Mr. Adelson, you're not thinking of stopping me, are you? Hope not—this is a livestream. You do know what that is, right?"The comment section was blowing up, cheering him on.Sebastian just clenched his fists, silent as the guy walked out.The second the door shut, he decked Chuck."You've got five seconds—where's Yasmine? Where'd those pics come from? I said don't show Sharon's face unless it was bulletproof. This is your version of love?"All the leaked pics were of Chuck and Sharon. No one had thought Sharon could've been behind it.Chuck wiped his mouth, jaw tight. "Why don't you ask your precious daughter?"Sharon walked in, brows furrowed. "Dad? Mom? Chuck? What's going on? Why the meltdown? Why are you all looking at me?"Chuck hurled the

The guy Sharon still couldn't let go of—Chuck—was standing outside my real parents' house.After walking away from all that mess, I'd only come here to say goodbye.Chuck once told me they didn't want me. Said they thought a daughter they never raised could never stack up to the one they did. Claimed they resented me even more after Sharon vanished.For years, I kept convincing myself—a mistake's a mistake. I didn't need to be jealous. My real parents loved me, too.But it felt like a fantasy. And when I finally woke up, it was like I'd never moved forward at all.What I didn't expect? The second my birth mom saw me, she ran over, crying, and wouldn't let go.She scolded me for staying away so long, while she was more scared that I'd only come back because the outside world had crushed me.That's when it hit me—they'd always loved me. More than anything.Chuck had lied. Fed me stories and stole years I could've had with them.Now? My mom was screaming at him. "How dare you sho