"What? No way! I won't agree to this!"
When Rosa told Dad and Mom that she was dropping out to marry Theo, their opposition was immediate and fierce.
"Rosa, everyone can see the Dawson family's situation. Marrying Theo will only bring you hardship! And don't get me started on his shady behavior. He's a rogue. You can't marry him!"
Dad and Mom lectured Rosa, their voices filled with worry. But Rosa, blinded by the idea of becoming the richest man's wife, wasn't listening at all.
When Dad and Mom criticized Theo, Rosa's forehead immediately creased with impatience.
"Dad, Mom, time can change a person. Theo may be a nobody now, but he could achieve great things in the future. And I'm going to be the wife of the richest man! You'll have a comfortable life too."
Rosa spoke with absolute confidence, but the concern etched on Dad's and Mom's faces didn't fade one bit.
Dad puffed on his pipe. His lips were cracked from worry, but he still couldn't bring himself to scold Rosa.
"And what about Dexter?"
Everyone knew that she had been pursuing Dexter all these years.
When Rosa heard his name, a flash of hatred crossed her eyes, and her lips curled into a cruel smile. "Have Hazel marry him instead. Ask for more wedding gifts. That'll make my life in the Dawson family much easier."
No sooner had she spoken than Mom's sharp slap landed on my face, sending a fiery sting across my cheek.
"Did you push Rosa onto Theo? I knew you were up to no good! How dare you steal your sister's man? Why did I give birth to such a shameless child?"
I held my face in silence. Even though I had long gotten used to their favoritism toward Rosa, it still hurt.
As our names suggested, Rosa was the family's treasured rose, while I was merely a humble hazel shrub.
Rosa was their firstborn, so she was spoiled and loved.
Mom had hoped her second child would be a boy to complete the family. But I ended up taking my unborn brother's place. On top of that, Mom nearly died giving birth to me. Her womb was damaged, making it impossible for her to have more children.
So they hated me, the cursed one who had ended the Spencer family line.
Rosa knew Dexter would amount to nothing. Forcing me to marry him was her way of keeping me beneath her for life.
She tugged at Mom's sleeve, her face set with determination. "Enough, Mom. I'm marrying Theo. Trust me, he'll be driving a car in three years."
Mom's ears perked at the mention of a car, though she was still skeptical. Theo was notorious in the village, but Rosa spoke with such absolute certainty. That left Mom genuinely puzzled.
Seeing me cover my face without moving, Rosa threw several books at me all at once. "Since I'm dropping out, these books are yours now."
I was dizzy from this sudden surprise. Even though my head was bleeding, I didn't wipe it away. Instead, I carefully gathered the books and held them close.
In my previous life, I had earned a spot at the county's top high school. But Dad and Mom locked me in the woodshed the day before registration, letting Rosa take my spot.
I was stuck at home doing farm chores, but they took every hard-earned penny I made to give Rosa pocket money. Later, when I went into business with Theo in Brindleton, people mocked me for my middle school education.
My lack of formal schooling had always been a deep wound. And now, Rosa was handing me the chance. I wasn't about to let it go.
"Rosa?" Dad and Mom both voiced their doubts in unison.
Rosa chuckled. "Relax, Dad, Mom. Even if Hazel scores well, she's still going to be serving me for life. Besides, even Dexter can't pass. How could an illiterate who's been out of school for years ever get in? She's destined to be beneath me forever."
