Semua Bab Second Shot: Choosing Silence Over Salvage: Bab 1 - Bab 10

I stood at the library entrance for a few seconds, looking at the bright red color blooming before my eyes.It looked exactly like the blood that had flowed in my previous life, when Mom pushed me down the stairs and the back of my head hit the ground.Countless images instantly flashed through my mind.The noise of the hospital corridor, Mom's icy gaze, Dad's furious roar, and the terrible feeling of weightlessness when I fell…Desperate, I quickly turned around and ran in the opposite direction. I hailed a taxi and got in.As I sat in the back seat, my body still wouldn't stop trembling.Cynthia Bale's parents died saving my brother during an earthquake, leaving her an orphan. My parents felt they owed them an immense debt of gratitude, so they brought Cynthia into our home.From then on, Cynthia became the princess of the family, while I became the useless, unwanted one. Even my brother, Alex Bale—who had always cared for me—was only nice to Cynthia.No matter what I did or

Grandma Bessie stamped her foot and said angrily, "What are you still standing around for? Hurry up and get your wife back here! How dare she lie to us about being at work?"This time, the call connected quickly. The noisy background sound came through, and Cynthia could be heard exclaiming happily, "Mom, we still need ten more pearls to make a necklace! Hurry up and keep gathering them!"Mom said dotingly, "Okay. I'll keep gathering them for you."Dad said anxiously into the phone, "Miranda, you need to come back now! Alex was shot! He has an intracranial hemorrhage and needs you to operate!"There was a brief silence on the other end of the line, followed by Mom's displeased voice."Are you joining in this nonsense too? Did that wretched girl Cindy say this? She can't go a single day without causing trouble! How many times have I told you that not a single word she says can be trusted?"I stood to the side, listening to their conversation. I felt a chill spread through my who

Grandma Bessie pointed at the death certificate and yelled despairingly, "It's because of you, Miranda! Because of your selfishness! Because of your stupidity! Your son is dead!"Mom trembled as she picked up the paper, staring at it as if trying to burn a hole through it with her gaze.Cynthia was clearly frightened by the suddenly tense atmosphere. She quietly retreated, trying to make herself less noticeable.Dad's gaze was icy as he said, "Miranda, let's get a divorce."Mom looked up sharply. "I don't agree! I won't agree to a divorce! Alex's passing is all my fault, but I really didn't know the situation was so serious. I thought Cindy was lying again!"While clutching the death certificate, Mom wailed and pleaded hoarsely, "Peter, forgive me this once. Just this once, okay? I promise I'll never be like this again!""Forgive you? Miranda, how can I forgive you?"Dad's voice suddenly rose, filled with long-suppressed anger and disappointment. "For an outsider with no blood r

Mom grabbed the photo and threw it in my face, saying, "If it weren't for Thia suggesting we check the surveillance footage to find out how Alex died, I would never have known you were so malicious!"I stared directly into Mom's icy gaze, and a surge of uncontrollable anger suddenly welled up inside me."Am I really your biological child?" I asked.Mom's expression shifted drastically, and a flicker of panic appeared in her eyes. "What… What nonsense are you spouting?" she stuttered.I laughed. "If I were truly your daughter, how could you bear to treat me like this? Since I was little, you've only had eyes for Cynthia. And now you're even trying to pin Alex's death on me? Was I the one who shot him?"Mom stared fixedly at me with her lips pursed together. After a brief moment, she said, "Yes, you are my child. But how did I end up giving birth to something like you?"She pointed at me, shouting hoarsely, "You've been jealous of Cynthia since you were little, and now you even dar

Mom was trembling with rage as she pointed at me, her chest heaving violently. "You! You ungrateful child! I'm your mother! How dare you speak to me like that?"Fine! Cindy Bale! I'll make this clear right here in front of your grandmother—I don't have a daughter like you! Starting today, get out of the house! Never set foot home ever again! Consider yourself dead to me!"I looked at her coldly with not a trace of heartache in my expression. Instead, I showed a deeply relieved smile.This was something I welcomed. It was exactly what I wanted!"Okay. You want to cut ties? I couldn't ask for anything better!" I retorted.My ready agreement clearly took Mom by surprise. She choked up immediately, her face flushing red.Cynthia chose that moment to throw herself into Mom's arms, crying out, "Mom, don't be like this… Cindy was just speaking in anger… You still have me…"Mom hugged Cynthia tightly. "Yes! I still have you! My dear Cynthia, it's a good thing I still have you…"She cri