3
Indeed, all it took was one tear from her, and
Mom and Dad were heartbroken.
Let alone a slap.
But I didn’t stop. I stared straight at her.
“Chloe, apologize to Buddy.”
Her eyes widened, quickly filling with tears.
“Ashley, you can hate me, but you can’t
Mom’s face darkened. “Ashley, we’ve been
tolerant enough. Look at what you’ve done to
the house. Don’t push it.”
Dad glared at me angrily. “Chloe is injured
because of you. You should be apologizing to
her.”
I didn’t speak. I silently picked up a random
stick from the floor and started smashing
things.
Ten–thousand–dollar tableware, million–dollar
antique vases, priceless paintings, all
smashed to pieces.
Dad yelled and tried to stop me, but I forced
him back with the stick. “You’ve gone too far!
I shouldn’t have brought you back! You’re a
lunatic!”
<
I sneered. “You’re right. I’m a lunatic, so don’t
overestimate my self–control.”
Mom clutched her chest, trembling with
anger. “How could I have a daughter like you?
You’ve become warped after all these years
outside!”
Warped? But I had been constantly
disciplined, learning to be normal.
It was you who forced me, pushed me until I
lost control.
Chloe’s tears seemed endless, her face
growing paler, her body trembling slightly.
Mom rushed to her side, her voice anxious.
“Honey, what’s wrong? Are you having
another episode?”
く
Dad also stepped closer, his eyes fixed on
Chloe.
Chloe took a few breaths, forcing a weak
smile. “Mom, Dad, don’t be angry. It’s all my
fault. I made Ashley upset. I should apologize
to her.”
She got up and walked over, a cautious,
almost fawning expression on her face.
“Ashley, you can punish me however you
want. Please forgive me. Don’t make things
difficult for Mom and Dad.”
Then, she lowered her voice as she stood
before me. “See? They’ll always take my side.
They’re my parents. You might be their
biological daughter, but you’ll never be as
important as me.”
く
I met her triumphant gaze, picked up a steak
knife from the table, and plunged it into the
back of her hand.
“Ah!” A scream pierced the air. Bright red
blood spurted from the wound, and Chloe
collapsed to the floor.
Mom screamed too.
She lunged at me, pulling me to the ground.
I tried to dodge, but the withdrawal symptoms
from missing my medication hit me. My chest
tightened, a wave of nausea and suffocation
washing over me.
My forehead slammed against the floor,
opening a gash.
Г
The ambulance arrived quickly, taking Chloe
away and me along with her.
At the hospital, Chloe was rushed into the ER.
I sat in the hallway. A nurse from the
emergency room noticed me and bandaged
my wound.
When Chloe came out, Mom and Dad rushed
to her side, frantic with worry.
Chloe no longer needed to feign weakness;
her face was pale from blood loss.
“Mom, Dad, I was foolish to think I could stay
in this family. I didn’t realize Ashley hated me
so much that she wanted to kill me.”
く
“She’s your real daughter. You should take
her home. Please forgive me, but I don’t
deserve to stay here anymore.”
Her words were heartfelt, breaking Mom’s
heart.
She hugged Chloe tightly and cried. “Don’t
say such things. You’re my daughter. I’ll never
abandon you, no matter what.”
“Ashley is a lunatic! She’s the one who should
leave!”
Dad’s eyes were filled with rage. “I won’t let
her get away with this. We’re calling the
police. She belongs in a mental hospital!”
The police arrived quickly. After
understanding the situation they gave me
く
strange looks and contacted the psychiatric
hospital to have me evaluated.
While we waited, Dad coldly declared,
“Ashley, you’ve exhausted all my patience.
You can reflect on your actions in the mental
hospital.”
I leaned against the wall, ignoring Chloe’s
gaze, and gave him a defiant smile.
Soon, a doctor arrived.
Dad pointed at me grimly. “She’s a psycho.
Lock her up in your hospital.”
The doctor looked at me, and I recognized a
familiar face.
“Not you again!” His face paled. He
く
instinctively stepped back, bumping into the
doorframe, almost falling. “I finally managed
to get her discharged two years ago! I’ll take
any psych patient, but not Ashley!”
