The Day They Looked For Me, I Had Already Forgotten Them Chapter 04

The Day They Looked For Me, I Had Already Forgotten Them Chapter 04

I instinctively lunged for the cash.

“I earned that money from my summer job.”

“Give it back! That’s my tuition money!”

Olivia lifted her hand and held the money high above my reach.

“You think you’re getting stolen money back? Dream on.”

We grappled over it.

At that moment, Julian’s footsteps sounded outside the room.

“Maya, we need to talk.”

Before I could answer, Olivia yanked the door open and went crashing onto the shattered pieces of the piggy bank.

Blood immediately streaked across her skin.

She screamed in pain.

“Maya, don’t push me!”

I stared at Olivia wailing among the broken pieces, then at Julian as he stepped through the doorway.

I froze, stunned.

Julian rushed to her, pressed a hand to her bleeding wound, and scooped her into his arms.

Then he turned and glared at me.

In that instant, I saw hatred in his eyes.

Mom and Dad rushed in at the commotion. They didn’t even stop to yell at me before hurrying after Julian, crowding around Olivia as they left.

I remained rooted to the spot.

Before I could process what was happening, Mom slapped me. Then Dad started punching and kicking me.

They beat me while hurling insults.

“Olivia only came into your room to look around, and you did this to her? Do you have any heart at all?”

“You worthless bitch! Stealing wasn’t enough—now you’re hurting people too?”

“Get out! Go back to that backwater town! You’re no daughter of ours!”

…

They beat me viciously.

Every part of my body hurt, and I no longer had the strength to stand.

As my consciousness began to fade, a pair of shoes stopped in front of me.

Julian reached down and helped me up.

He raised a hand toward my parents, his voice almost gentle.

“Mr. and Mrs. Bennett, that’s enough. Maya may not have done it on purpose.”

“I’ll take her for a drive and talk to her. Maybe clearing the air will help.”

I looked up at him gratefully, wanting to thank him for saving me.

I wanted to tell him that I truly hadn’t pushed Olivia.

But when I finally saw his eyes clearly, fear ran through me.

They held nothing but bottomless disgust.

He hated me.

Julian led me out of the house, and we passed through the living room on the way.

Olivia was lying on the couch while the family’s private physician bandaged her cuts.

She gave me a smug smile and waved.

Then she mouthed two words.

“Goodbye, bitch.”

The sky was almost black, heavy with the threat of a violent storm.

Julian drove so fast that I gripped the seat belt tightly. I couldn’t even find a moment to explain what had really happened.

At last, he stopped on a deserted stretch of road.

Darkness surrounded us, and I had no idea where we were.

Only then did Julian finally speak to me.

“Maya, grab something from the trunk for me.”

I obediently got out of the car.

A few raindrops began to fall, cold against my skin.

I had just reached the back of the car when I heard a sharp click behind me.

It was the sound of the doors locking from the inside.

I spun around.

Julian lowered the window, his face twisted with mockery and contempt.

“Honestly, I did feel a little sorry for you when you ended the engagement.”

“I can’t believe you’re still so good at playing the victim. The moment you got home, you went after Olivia. Maya, you really are vicious.”

“This is what you get for acting out. Stay here and think about what you’ve done.”

The next second, the car surged forward and disappeared down the road.

Thunder cracked overhead, and rain came down in sheets.

I stood frozen in the storm.

Only then did I understand what Olivia had meant when she said goodbye.

It felt like I had been thrown away.