The atmosphere grew tense, the silence hanging thick in the air.
"Is it Cielle?" Margaret asked, her smile warm and kind as she looked toward the doorway.
Zayn, her father, quickly called her over, urging her to meet her sister.
Cielle hesitated, her mind struggling to process the surreal reality before her. Under everyone’s watchful eyes, she stumbled into the room, panic flooding her.
The life she once knew now felt so alien and she could barely find her footing. She retreated to a corner, her tears falling in waves.
Then, there was a soft knock on the door.
It was Margaret, stepping in quietly.
She was thin, almost to the point of fragility, her pale face a stark contrast to the warmth of the room.
"Thank you, Cielle," Margaret said, her brow arched in mild surprise. Her tone was warm, almost grateful. "If it weren’t for you, I might still be abroad, undergoing treatment."
"And thank you for taking care of our parents all these years, as well as my brother and Laurent."
At that moment, Cielle felt something shift within her. The sister she had imagined wasn't quite what she had expected.
Just as she began to feel a pang of shame for her earlier impoliteness, Margaret’s next words struck her like a lightning bolt.
"But this home will always be mine, including them. They can only belong to me!"
Margaret’s friendly smile melted away, replaced by a fierce, almost predatory glare.
Cielle froze, stepping back, her heart racing. But then, gathering every ounce of courage, she squared her shoulders. "No! This is my home too! They are my family!"
"Really?" Margaret’s smile returned, but it was different, sly, calculating. A gleam of mischief flickered in her eyes.
A cold, heavy feeling settled in Cielle’s chest. Something wasn’t right.
The sharp sound of a slap shattered the tension, followed by a scream as Margaret crumpled to the floor.
"Ah—"
Cielle’s thoughts seemed to freeze at that moment, her mind blank with shock.
Before she could even process what had happened, the door was flung open.
"Margaret!"
"Margaret!"
Magnus and Laurent rushed forward, their panic evident as they bent to help the fallen Margaret.
Tears poured from Margaret’s eyes and her voice cracked with despair. "Sister, I’ve been gone for over twenty years and this is my home! Why can’t I come back?"
Her heartbroken sobs filled the room, making the air heavy with grief.
Magnus and Laurent’s faces twisted with fury, their gaze locking onto Cielle, who stood frozen, a mixture of fear and confusion on her face.
Cielle quickly waved her hand, desperate to explain, but just as the words were on the tip of her tongue, her brother’s harsh words stopped her cold.
"Cielle! Why are you so jealous? Why can’t Margaret come home?"
Her brother had never spoken to her like that before. Even in moments of frustration, he would retreat into himself, silently grappling with his emotions.
Now, those words hit her like a slap. Her throat tightened with a wave of helpless grief, especially since she had done nothing wrong.
Cielle’s eyes stung as they filled with tears and she trembled, her finger pointing toward herself. "Me? Jealous?"
But instead of an explanation, her brother’s next words pierced her even deeper.
"I think she’s just a jealous woman!"
Her heart clenched painfully as if something sharp had lodged in her chest. The ache spread through her body, a slow burn that left her feeling weak.
Cielle slowly turned to Laurent, who stood silently by the side, his gaze cold. His indifference shattered her, stripping her of any remaining strength.
Margaret, rubbing her swollen cheek, feigned innocence as she spoke, her voice dripping with sweetness. "Don’t blame her! She didn’t mean it. Anyone would be upset if their parents and family were taken away."
"Taken away?"
