They Chose My Twin, So I Chose a Life Without Them Chapter 08

They Chose My Twin, So I Chose a Life Without Them Chapter 08

After hearing the truth, my parents struck Lily across the face without hesitation.

“Do you understand what you’ve done? You destroyed this family.”

They were so furious and heartsick that they could barely look at her.

They ended the party early, marched Lily home, and locked her in her room.

“You can come out when you’ve truly reflected on what you did.”

After punishing her, they reached me through my college counselor.

They had hoped the party would repair our relationship, but it had made everything worse.

Most of the guests had enough judgment not to condemn me outright.

Still, there were too many people and too many versions of the story. By the time the gossip spread,

I had become a failure in both academics and character.

My parents sobbed into the phone as they apologized.

“Claire, you have to believe us. None of this was what we intended.” Mason apologized too.

“Claire, I was blind.”

“You’ve always been the best sister and the one I should be proudest of.” Then they begged me.

“Claire, forgive us one more time. Give us another chance.”

I cut off their endless pleading.

“You want me to forgive you? Fine.”

“Tell everyone the full truth, including how Lily put something in my milk.”

“Do that, and I’ll still consider you my parents.”

The three people who had been talking over one another went silent.

“B-but that would destroy Lily’s reputation.”

“Ask for something else. Money, anything.”

“Whatever you ask, we’ll…”

“No.”

My voice remained calm.

“And one more thing.”

“Don’t contact me again.”

I ended the call without hesitation.

No matter how much they claimed they wanted to make things right, they still chose Lily when action was required.

The difference was that I no longer felt hurt or disappointed.

I had already stepped out of the shadow of being unloved.

College life was peaceful and full.

Along with my major courses, I studied international business and business communication.

I earned the highest marks in every class and collected every major award the university offered.

Before graduation, I received a job offer from a Fortune 500 company.

Over those four years, Nathan Reed sent countless letters and gifts from Boston.

Every letter apologized for ignoring me and declared that he loved me.

I never answered a single one, and I returned every gift unopened.

I saw my parents again on graduation day.

In four short years, they seemed to have aged more than a decade. Exhaustion clouded their eyes.

Through their tearful explanation, I learned that even though they had refused to defend me

publicly, someone who knew the truth eventually posted it online.

As the person responsible, Lily Parker became the target of severe online harassment and

developed depression. She had to leave school and return home.

She blamed our parents for everything, insisting they had exposed the truth and ruined her life.

Unable to endure the constant accusations, they eventually placed her in a long-term mental health treatment center and stopped visiting.

My parents held my hands, their eyes full of regret.

“Claire, we truly know we were wrong now.”

“We failed you. We’re so sorry.”

I gently pulled my hands free, said nothing, and walked away.

It had taken me four years to drag myself out of the past.

I no longer needed the family love I had once begged for.