Chapter 2
Claire, how dare you trigger Sienna’s condition again!
You’re too vicious to deserve being my sister!
No
Get out here and apologize to Sienna right now?
It was the voice of the young man from earlier.
He called me his suster, but his attitude toward me wasn’t brotherly. He treated me more like an enemy.
Before I could understand what was happening, he lost his patience and burst into the dark room, grabbing my arm to drag me out. I couldn’t match the strength of a grown man, but my fear of the outside world made me struggle instinctively.
To, please don’t
I grabbed the only table in the dark room with both hands, gripping it so hard my nails were about to dig into the wood.
When be noticed my fear, he just let out a mocking laugh.
Oh, now you’re scared? Where was this attitude before?
People like you need to learn your lesson hard!”
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Chapter 2
bie legt pulling me vulty toward the door
My man, dangly ambacked in the wood, snapped off, and I cried out in pain as it shot through my fingertips.
Shut up you darur Sanna again, you’ll regret it
This man, who claimed to be my brother, bioked me, trying to make me quiet down.
Nhan tage screaming, he covered my mouth with his hand.
2 was so ended as we approached that door that my whole body shook.
I but his hand hard on a burst of courage I didn’t know I had.
He yelled in pain and let go of me.
I scrambled away, crawling back into the corner.
He laughed angesh Well, Clare, now be grown some teath!”
In the dark wang the dim light from his phone, he swung his arm and slapped me across the face.
You’ve got zero class for a young lady of the Deans family. How dare you bite people?
acant you the one begging us on your knees not to put you in the darkroom before? What’s with the act now?
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3/5
“All this just because you don’t want to apologize to Sienna?”
I stayed silent, just feeling shocked.
I thought, “Are these people my family?”
I thought family should support each other and live together in harmony.
At worst, they might become like strangers to each other.
But what were these people doing?
They locked me in a dark room, beat me, and yelled at me! They didn’t even stop when I got on my knees and begged!
What was I to them? Was I their daughter, sister, or enemy?
A chill ran through my body as I found no answers.
When I didn’t answer, Rylan got even angrier.
“Fine! If you don’t want to come out, you can stay in there forever for all I care!”
He kicked the door hard and ordered someone to lock it.
Before he left, I heard him tell the others not to bring me food or
water.
The dark room fell silent again.
Chapter 2
No, silent wasn’t the right word. It was dead quiet.
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They must have used some soundproofing material because once the door closed, I couldn’t hear anything except my heavy breathing.
I stayed sitting in the corner.
I couldn’t hear anything outside or tell how much time had passed.
But my cramping stomach reminded me of one thing…
I needed food.
My memory was fuzzy, but I must have been in this dark room for several days.
Nobody had brought me food during that time, explaining why I was so hungry, and my stomach hurt so badly.
I clenched my fist against my stomach, trying to ease the pain.
But my stomach wasn’t having any of it.
After countless bouts of abuse, it felt like it was riddled with holes, making me break out in a cold sweat from the pain.
I banged my arm against the door, hoping someone outside would rescue me. It was a motion I’d perfected from what felt like a thousand times before.
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But the door remained shut even after my strength gave out.
This place felt like a prison cell built just for me.
Time dragged on until my lips were cracked and dry, and I nearly collapsed from exhaustion when the door finally clicked open.
A plainly dressed woman walked in, carrying a weak flashlight beam.
Her face filled with sympathy when she saw me.
“Ms. Claire Evans, is your stomach acting up again?
“I brought you some medicine and oatmeal. You’d better eat quickly before Mr. Rylan Evans and the others find out.”
