All Chapters of Tables Turned: Chapter 1 - Chapter 9

As my injured leg dragged the ground, I crawled into my cramped room and collapsed among the scattered trash. Blood soaked through my legs as it stained the fabric of my pants. This pair of pants was the only birthday gift I had in twenty years. They were rough, but new. A rare gem lovingly stitched by my brothers' hands. The doctor had warned me — no more, or risk a fatal infection. However, I wore them anyway, a testament to my brothers' sacrifice.Debts from our parents' passing left us with nothing. We did not even have enough for a warm coat. My brothers, though, sold their blood just to buy this pair of pants. I could not bear to ask for more after that. That was why I only sang myself a birthday song in the dark, wrapped in my blanket.I grew up scavenging, flipping through dumpsters for bottles to sell. Grateful for whatever tossed-out scraps to fill my stomach. I avoided hospitals, no matter the injury. I sprinkled flour on my wounds, praying they would heal, all to spare

A glimpse of a familiar princess dress passed through the old wooden door. The girl leapt into the welcoming arms of the brothers. "Brothers!" she exclaimed.James expertly swept her up and twirled her around, while Ryan and Nathan were utterly charmed by her tinkling laughter.James held her gently as she stepped down, his voice a mix of mock anger and concern. "What are you doing here? This is no place for you — it's a dump here. You're too delicate for this, you could get sick. You were supposed to stay in the presidential suite, remember? What if Carol finds out..."However, I knew this dump all too well, it had been my home for twenty years."I just missed you guys, and I wanted to be with you," I said.Jasmine clung to my brothers' hands, her lips forming a pout as she tried to charm them. "Can you take me to a movie tonight? It's been three whole days since we last went."The brothers exchanged troubled looks, their eyes flicking back to the humble rental house.Jasmine's

"...the cleaner you've been asking for.""You?!" Nathan looked like he had seen a bug, and Ryan backed away like he had seen a ghost.James turned around, ready to lay a word in, "You two better not be-" He clammed up, not another peep.He had that panicked look, then tried to fake some concern. "Carol, shouldn't you be back at your place resting? You're injured and yet here you are, running around."I forced a bitter smile, locking eyes with Jasmine who was hiding behind my brothers, silently judging me as a cripple. "If I didn't get out, how else would I catch you all fawning over her?"The slap echoed sharply, a sudden sting across my cheek.Ryan glared at me, his voice heavy with contempt. "Why are you speaking like that? Have we been too soft on you?"Nathan's kick landed hard against my chest. "Get out of the way! Jasmine's getting scared by your freakish looks!"James's voice carried a chilling warning. "Spout off again, and you'll wish you were dead."Their relentless

Before I left for good, I went back to that rental stay, filled with nothing but trash.Surprisingly, the landlord had not tossed everything out. I burned all the stuff that belonged to my brothers and me, except for one thing — a document that cut all ties with them.Some people treated others like disposable weeds, some treasured them like precious flowers. To them, I was an annoying weed. Now, I was off to tend to a flower of my own, a flower named Rose.A week later, the door that was barely hanging on gave way with a gentle knock, and the breeze that followed sent the document fluttering to the floor."Carol? Are you still mad? I should've told you sooner, the movie theater is owned by our boss and Jasmine is his daughter. We were just there to work as security," James confessed."Check this out, I got you movie tickets! You can finally say you've been to the movies!" Nathan added with a grin."I didn't mean to kick you, dearest sister. If the boss's daughter was unhappy, we

Following the address on the summons, the brothers arrived at the lawyer's office. The moment they saw Lawyer Wilson, they all lowered their heads in respect.James pleaded, "Mr. Graham, please, you have to tell us where our sister is. She's all we have left of our parents."Ryan chimed in, "Mr. Graham, you've known us since we were kids. Our sister is the last piece of our parents we have. Just let us know where she is. We'll do anything.""Mr. Graham, please tell Carol that I was wrong. I deserve the worst, but if she's willing to come back, we'll give her anything she wants!"Wilson's brows knitted together as he let out a cold huff. "You're offering scraps nobody wants. Only now you're feeling regret? Her misery is your doing. Just go back. She'd be sick just looking at you. And her name is Rose, not Caroline. At the trial, bring back what you took. It's the least you owe her."There I was, in the institute, going through my last blood transfusion. I looked like death — pale a