Ethan carried Lily away in a rush.
Sophie leaned close to me.
“Emily, honestly, I don’t hate you for Sarah’s death.”
“But what are you so proud of?” she whispered.
“When my sister was alive, you were never her match. When she was in college, I was there too. I know Ethan liked her, not you. You clung to him desperately just to make him notice you.”
“Now my sister is dead, and you’ve got Ethan all to yourself. What more do you want? Even with no legs, you’re still better off than her—she’s gone.”
“Get out!” I pointed at her. “Go join your dead sister in heaven.”
Sophie froze, then leaned into my ear.
“Emily Johnson, what are you so smug about? Don’t you know your daughter tricked you? She pretended to be kidnapped, all so you’d lose your legs. It was Ethan who told them to break your legs.”
“And you didn’t see it coming. I added seventy thousand dollars to make sure they took your womb too. How does it feel? You’ll never have children again. The only child you’ve got left is Lily—and she hates you.”
“I’ll make sure you regret this forever. You should have given my sister that parking spot. This is my revenge for her.”
“So it was you!!”
Rage boiled inside me. I slapped her hard across the face. “You vile woman!”
“Heh. Ethan’s not here. What can you do to me?” she sneered, slapping me back just as hard.
We tore at each other like wildcats, pulling hair and slapping until suddenly she let go. Her body collapsed like a broken kite.
Crash!
Her body hit the glass coffee table beside us, shards slicing into her flesh. Blood spilled across the floor.
The fragments glittered, scattered everywhere.
Just then, Ethan burst in, roaring, “What are you doing? Bullying Sophie!”
Of course. This scheming woman knew exactly when to play her part.
“What’s your problem, Emily? First you nearly drove Lily to her death, and now you hurt Sophie? Apologize!” Ethan glared at me, then helped Sophie up.
“It wasn’t Emily’s fault. I fell myself. Ethan, don’t blame her,” Sophie said sweetly.
“Fell? Ha! And the five handprints on your face? Did you fall into those too? Show me how you did that!” Ethan scolded, his heart aching for her.
“Your sister is gone, so I have to take care of you now. But you can’t let yourself be bullied like this.”
“Yes, Sophie, Mommy was too much. Your calf is bleeding. You need the infirmary to remove the glass. Otherwise, you’ll scar and won’t look good in skirts anymore.” Lily added.
“Mommy, you should apologize.”
Sophie put on her innocent act. “Don’t say that, Lily. She’s your mother. You can’t talk to her like this. What if she gets mad and forces you to eat broccoli again?”
“Even if she does, I’ll still speak the truth. My teacher said justice must always defeat evil.” Lily said firmly.
My heart shattered as I looked at her.
“Lily, between Aunt Sarah and Aunt Sophie, you’d choose them over me, your mother, wouldn’t you?”
