Chapter 4
Lucky…
A dull ache bloomed in Sharon’s upper abdomen, while the nerves in her head throbbed like a drumskin stretched too tight.
Lucky—the stray she and Evan had adopted from the shelter, a living witness to all their sweetest memories.
And now… they’d *cooked* him?
A coppery tang surged up her throat. She clapped a hand over her mouth. When she pulled it away, the crimson blood staining her palm stabbed at her eyes.
Reason deserted her. She flung the container aside, lunged forward, and wrapped her hands around Leah’s throat in a frenzy.
“Why would you do that to Lucky!”
“If you hate me, come at *me*! Hit me, curse me! Why… why do *this*!”
Her eyes were bloodshot, her grip tightening relentlessly. She was moments from strangling Leah when a powerful shove sent her sprawling.
Her forehead cracked against the table’s edge. Blood streamed down, quickly coating her face in a grotesque red mask.
Pain stole her breath. Through the haze, she saw Evan’s eyes—filled with a rage that promised murder.
“Sharon! And here I was, actually believing you’d changed, that you’d turned a new leaf!”
“I didn’t even want to come get you today. Leah begged me for ages before I agreed. And this is how you repay her? You ungrateful bitch!”
Sharon shook her head frantically. “No, it’s not like that. Leah… she cooked Lucky and fed him to me.”
“What Lucky? Lucky is perfectly fine, playing in the garden at home. Did those years in that… place rot your brain? Have you gone insane?” Evan’s face twisted with disgust.
Others in the ward chimed in:
“Honestly, a girl so young, and not a word of truth in her. I clearly saw her attack her sister first.”
“Right? Probably jealous her sister’s prettier. Doing it on purpose. Tsk… maybe she really is crazy.”
“No, no, that’s not it.” Sharon stumbled backward in a panic, the blood caking her face giving her a ghastly, savage appearance. Finally, a nurse took pity and stepped forward with a cloth to wipe it away.
But the sudden movement made Sharon scream.
The past from those years flooded back—the blood, the whippings, the agony.
She dropped to the floor and started beating her head against the ground in a frantic rhythm. Once, twice, three times…
This was her old ritual, whenever the pain became unbearable. Hurting her body could sometimes drown out the pain inside.
“You lunatic! If anything happens to Leah today, I’ll make you pay a thousand times over!”
Evan spat the words through gritted teeth, then scooped Leah into his arms and stormed out.
His footsteps retreated down the hall until silence swallowed them. Sharon couldn’t hear anything anymore. The world before her blurred.
Evan had already settled the bill. Fearing she’d cause more trouble, the hospital found an excuse and simply discharged her.
Her luggage was dumped on the roadside.
“Disgusting! What bad luck!” Someone spat in her direction.
Sharon lifted her battered, blood-streaked face with blank eyes. She crouched down and began gathering her things, piece by piece.
She walked for what felt like an eternity. It was past midnight by the time she finally reached the Evans' estate.
Suddenly, arms wrapped around her from behind, pulling her into a tight embrace.
“Does your head still hurt?” Evan’s hand reached up to gently touch her temple, his fingers carefully wiping at the dried blood.
“I asked Leah today. She did say the soup was Lucky, but it was just a harmless joke.”
“You’re the older sister. Can’t you let it go? Hmm?”
When Sharon remained silent, Evan finally lost all patience. He stood over her by the bedside, looking down with icy detachment.
“There’s a gathering next Monday. You’re coming with me. Do that, and I’ll return your mother’s jade pendant.”
“Sharon, this is your last chance. Don’t disappoint me again.”
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