They Sabotaged My Future, Then Begged Me to Come Back When I Built a Better One Chapter 04

They Sabotaged My Future, Then Begged Me to Come Back When I Built a Better One Chapter 04

“Because of Vivian.” Soren straightened and looked down at me.

“After you were sent to Silver Pines, Vivian was consumed with guilt. She blamed herself.”

He paused. His gaze shifted from me to Vivian’s face.

“I went to the foster home to help her get over it.”

“I treated you well on purpose so you would become completely devoted to me.”

“I wanted you to wag your tail and grovel at my feet for the rest of your life—to prove that all of this was your fault.”

“People like you are born beneath everyone else. You exist to be trampled on.”

The words hit like a blow. My blood ran cold.

So the fifteen years of memories—the warm milk brought to me in the dead of night, the flashlight held over my textbooks…

None of it was real. It was all just a game—a fifteen-year game to make Vivian feel better.

“Take her back to the hospital. Don’t let her affect Vivian’s mood before the SAT.”

Before I could even react, Soren wrapped an arm around Vivian and walked away.

Two bodyguards approached and lifted me up from either side.

I didn’t struggle. I didn’t even have the strength to move.

They took me back to Lakeside Medical Center and threw me onto the bed.

When the nurse changed my bandages and saw the shards of glass embedded in my back, she sucked in a sharp breath.

“How did you get hurt this badly?”

I didn’t answer.

I stared at the ceiling, my eyes dry from crying, unable to blink.

I didn’t know how much time passed before the door to the room was pushed open again.

“Brielle!” It was my mother’s voice.

I turned my head and saw her standing at the doorway with my father.

She rushed over and slapped me across the face. “You vicious bitch!”

“Did you do this to yourself on purpose, just to frame Vivian? You want everyone to think she’s the monster?”

I looked at the twisted expression on her face and finally screamed, “It was Vivian who pushed me back then!”

“And she’s the one who had Soren break my leg now!”

“That’s a lie!” My mother raised her hand again, but my father stopped her.

With undisguised disgust, he said, “Vivian is your own sister. Why would she hurt you?”

“Soren says your mind has been unstable. I’d say he’s right.”

All the strength drained from my body.

Just like before. Fifteen years ago, no one believed me. Fifteen years later, no one ever would.

“Call a nurse and give her a shot.” Soren’s voice came from the doorway.

I didn’t know when he had arrived.

He leaned against the doorframe, his expression indifferent.

“She’s unstable. She needs rest.”

When I came to, it was already late at night. I was alone in the room.

My phone sat on the bedside table. I reached for it and dialed a number.

“Hello. I want to report a crime.” My voice was soft, afraid of alerting the nurse in the hallway.

“I’m reporting an attempted murder. Soren Cross arranged the car that hit me.”

“My leg is broken. I can’t sit for the SAT anymore.”

The police arrived quickly and stepped into the room, asking about the situation.

I had only just begun speaking when Soren walked in, composed as ever.

“Officers, I’m sorry. She was traumatized by the accident. She’s developed some delusions and thinks people are trying to harm her.”

He handed them a file folder.

“This is the driver’s confession for drunk driving and the compensation agreement. He has already admitted guilt.”

“And here are her psychiatric medication records. She’s been receiving treatment for a while.”

“Recently, her condition has worsened, and she’s been having irrational thoughts.”

The officers took the documents, flipped through them, then looked at me.

I watched their expressions change, my heart sinking little by little.

“Miss Harrington, get some rest. Don’t overthink things.”

“He’s lying! You have to believe me!”

I tried to chase after them, but I could barely walk. I must have looked like a lunatic.

After they left, the door was locked from the outside.

Soren took out a metal chain. He fastened one end around my leg and locked the other to the side of the bed.

A flicker of something unreadable passed through his eyes as he reached out and patted my head.

“If you won’t listen, you’ll stay like this until Vivian finishes the SAT. So don’t make things worse.”

The door clicked shut.

I looked down at the chain wrapped around my leg.

Slowly, my hand moved beneath the pillow. A shard of glass was hidden there.

Then I pressed the shard to my wrist.