Chapter 5
Because her swollen ankle hurt so much, Sheena walked slowly all the way back to her small bed, and only then did she finally wipe away all the tears from her face.
In the dim light, Sheena carefully packed up everything in her room.
When she was done, she realized just how little she owned: a few pieces of clothing, a handful of books, a family photo, and a
necklace.
The family photo was taken before Jasmin came to live with them. Her parents had brought her and Stephen to a sunflower garden for the photo. In it, Sheena’s small figure nestled in her mother’s arms, her tiny hands tightly wrapped around her mother’s neck, radiating deep attachment.
Her father stood to the side with his usual stern expression. Stephen, however, smiled
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Chapter 5
with arched brows, posing like a knight protecting her. His right hand, half–hidden, was cheekily tugging at the corner of her dress.
It was the only thing Sheena had taken with her when she was sent to the
countryside.
For years, this photo had been her token, the proof she clung to in order to convince herself that her parents and brother still loved her. Someday, they would be a happy family again, just like in that picture.
But now, that dream was utterly shattered.
Sheena took the photo out of its frame, ripped it into tiny pieces, and tossed them.
into the trash.
As for the necklace, it was a gift from Travis. A small, unremarkable trinket from a village market. The pearl had long since. faded, and the chain was tarnished and dull. Yet Sheena had treasured it like a precious heirloom.
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Chapter 5
She held onto it because when Travis gave it to her, he had declared with unwavering conviction, “This is our token of love. Sheena, wait for me. I promise to make you the happiest bride in the world!”
E
TO
Perhaps because the necklace was so old and cheap, it was the only thing that Jasmin hadn’t bothered to destroy. But now, Sheena didn’t want it anymore.
She slipped the necklace into her pocket, thinking that no matter how worthless it was, it was still a gift from Travis. Since she didn’t want it anymore, she should at
least return it to him before leaving.
With that thought in mind, Sheena fell into a restless sleep.
When she woke up, Stephen‘ s furious. face was looming over her. “Sheena, you did this on purpose, didn’t you?”
and Her leg had throbbed all night, leaving her
rewith a splitting headache. She had no
energy to deal with him.
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Her silence only fueled Stephen‘ s anger.
He grabbed her and dragged her out of bed, pulling her all the way to the dining
room.
Once he roughly threw her to the floor, he shouted again, “Look at what you‘ ve done!”
Sheena glanced at the empty dining table, utterly baffled as to what he was so enraged about.
Just then, Jasmin walked in wearing a pretty princess dress, covering her mouth in a mock surprise, “Sis, why didn’t you make breakfast for us?”
‘Ah, so that was it.‘ Sheena thought.
In the past, Sheena had bent over backward to please the Brooks family. She had carefully observed everyone‘ s preferences, waking up three hours early every morning to prepare breakfast for them.
But today, she hadn’t done it.
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Jasmin pouted, pretending to be upset. “But I love the breakfast that sister makes the most.”
While comforting Jasmin, Stephen turned his fury back on Sheena. “You know perfectly well that Jasmin loves the breakfast you make, yet you deliberately didn’t cook today. How could you be so cruel?”
So it was all about breakfast–something entirely inconsequential to anyone else.
Suddenly, Sheena couldn t help but laugh.
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