Michelle leaned into his embrace, quietly sobbing.
“No, don’t let me cause a rift between you siblings. It breaks my heart…”
James turned to glare at me.
His face showed undisguised disgust. “Why can’t you just accept Michelle?
“She’s so kind and so lovely! As my sister, shouldn’t you be grateful that she’s here to protect my heart?
“Get up right now and apologize to Michelle!”
James grabbed my wrist and roughly yanked me off the hospital bed. 1
Pain shot through my unhealed left leg, the weakened bone feeling as if it would snap in two.
I fell to my knees unexpectedly, my hands bracing against the cold, hard tiles as a sharp ringing filled my head.
James loomed over me, his voice cold, “Stand up!
“Apologize to Michelle!”
I looked up at him with a bitter smile, the anger boiling in my chest nearly burning through my reason.
“James, I really want to know why someone you’ve only known for a few months means so much to you.
“What makes her worth throwing away our family bond? Aren’t I your real sister?”
James looked down at me, a mocking smile on his lips.
“Real sister?”
My heart froze.
“Mia, you’ve always been one step ahead of me since we were kids. Even though I’m the oldest, I’ve always been beneath you.
“You stole Dad’s attention and all the opportunities that he gave!”
His voice grew colder with each word, becoming increasingly aggressive.
“How can I see you as a sister?
“Michelle is truly gentle and considerate. She cares about my feelings and accepts me for who I am.
“On the other hand, you just look down on me with that superior attitude, always laughing at me!
“You’re a woman–what right do you have to be company president? What right do you have to block my projects?
1/2
Chapter 7
“My buddy really liked you. I asked you to marry him instead, so why did you refuse? Nathan doesn’t even love you.”
Listening to James’s words was like a winter night wind cutting through my bones.
So all my efforts and what I thought was sibling love had only earned me mockery and hatred.
+15 Bonus
When we were young, Dad was busy with company affairs, and Mom’s attention was focused more on my physically weak
