Once Rejected, Now Rising Chapter 03

Once Rejected, Now Rising Chapter 03

The next day, the video of our argument was uploaded online.

Comments poured in like a tidal wave, each one sharper than a blade:

[Is this woman crazy? Obsessed with her sister’s husband and turning around to accuse him?]

[Look at her, stay away, she might try to extort you.]

[I heard she’s been mentally unstable for years. That’s why she was in prison.]

I hid in my bedroom, drawing every curtain tight, too afraid to touch my phone, too afraid to leave.

The words seemed to pierce the walls, hammering into me relentlessly.

Rinaldo came in and sat beside the bed, his voice unusually gentle.

“Don’t pay attention to what’s online, it’s all lies.”

“That marriage certificate? I had it faked to appease her. Our marriage is the one protected by law, you’ve forgotten?”

“Be sensible. Stop throwing tantrums. Let’s go back to how things were.”

The next day was my stepmother’s birthday, and the third anniversary of her marriage to my father.

Rinaldo took both Azura and me to the celebration.

He warned me to “behave and don’t cause a scene.”

I spotted one of the servants carrying a large cardboard box into the backyard. A corner of old clothing peeked out.

I recognized the fabric, it was my mother’s old sweater.

I rushed over to stop her. “What are you doing? Who told you to throw this away?”

“This was my mother’s! Who gave you the right to discard it?” I grabbed for the box.

“Don’t, Nerissa,” Azura said softly, stepping closer.

“Your mother is gone. Keeping these things only takes up space and makes you sad. Let Maggie handle it.”

“Shut up!” I hugged the box to my chest. “This is my home! These are my mother’s things! You have no right to tell me what to do! Maggie, how did my mother treat you? And now you act like this?”

Maggie lowered her head, too scared to meet my eyes.

Azura sighed and pulled out a document. “Nerissa, I know you’re upset. But some things exist whether you acknowledge them or not.”

She held up a psychiatric report. “This is her mental evaluation from back then. She had severe schizophrenia, her words can’t be taken seriously.”

“She accused my mother of being a mistress. Over the years, my mother bore countless insults and endured so much because of her.”

She looked around, eyes red. “Please… help me persuade my sister to stop. Let her find peace.”

The room erupted with whispers.

“Oh my god, her mother was mentally ill too?”

“Mrs. Crowe has suffered so much, falsely accused for years.”

“Both mother and daughter are insane, what bad luck!”

The stares and murmurs stabbed at me like needles.

“Azura, you’re forging evidence! You’ll pay for this! You and your mother will burn in hell!”

I spun, clutching the box, trying to leave.

“Nerissa! What are you doing?!”

Rinaldo strode over and grabbed my arm, his face dark as iron.

“Azura, apologize! Right now!”

“I’m not wrong! I don’t apologize!”

“Azura!” My father’s roar thundered behind me, followed by a sharp slap across my face.

I reeled from the blow.

My stepmother hurried over, holding my father’s arm, her voice soft and gentle.

“Enough. Why be angry with the child? She’s suffering inside, I understand. I’ve been called a mistress for years, what’s a few more? Just don’t let you hurt each other over me.”

With each word, my father’s face darkened further.

I covered my face, refusing to look at them, and continued walking, clutching the box.

“Nerissa,” Rinaldo’s voice called behind me.

“If you don’t kneel and apologize to Azura today, I’ll have Nola and your mother’s ashes dug up from their graves and thrown into a cesspool.”