Save Your Breath, I'm Done Drowning - Chapter 7: Chapter 7

Alyssa sat alone in her opulent bedroom, chest rising and falling with barely contained rage. The shattered remains of her phone littered the floor, her distorted reflection staring back from the cracked screen. The memory looped relentlessly in her mind—Dillon's furious voice, his words slicing through her like broken glass.
Her nails clawed into the velvet armrest as she shrieked, "Mia, you conniving bitch! Did you really think vanishing would make Dillon chase after you?!"
Her shrill voice echoed through the mansion, and within seconds, my parents burst into the room.
Mom, draped in silk, rushed to Alyssa's side, brows knitted in worry. "Sweetheart, what happened? Did Mia pull another stunt? Just tell us—we'll deal with her!"
Dad followed, his expression icy but alert. "What's that disgrace done now?"
Alyssa buried her face in her hands, shoulders trembling. When she finally looked up, her eyes shimmered with perfectly timed tears. She leaned into Mom's embrace, voice fragile and pitiful.
"Mom… Dad… please don't blame Mia. I'm sure she didn't mean to. But ever since she disappeared, Uncle Dillon's been so… distant."
The effect was instant. Mom's face darkened, lips pressing into a thin, furious line. She snatched her phone, fingers stabbing at the screen as she dialed my number.
"That ungrateful brat!" she hissed. "After everything we've done for her, she has the nerve to ghost us?"
The call didn't connect. Mom's grip on the phone turned bone-white. When she checked WhatsApp and saw the red exclamation mark, her rage exploded.
Dad grabbed his own phone, jaw clenched as he tried reaching me. When his attempt failed, his expression turned murderous. He slammed the phone onto the table with a crack that reverberated through the room.
"She's doing this on purpose! That manipulative little witch! If she dares show her face here again, I'll break her legs myself!"
Their venomous curses filled the air, loud enough to make the servants in the hallway exchange uneasy glances.
Just as Dad's tirade peaked, a hesitant knock interrupted. A maid stepped in, wringing her hands.
"Sir, Madam… there's a woman outside. She's causing a scene, insisting she's Miss Alyssa and demanding to see you."
The room froze. My parents turned to the maid, faces twisted in confusion. Alyssa's face went pale.
"What?" Mom snapped. "That's impossible! Alyssa's right here!"
Before anyone could react, the doors burst open with a crash. A disheveled woman stumbled in, tear-streaked and desperate. "Mom! Dad!" she sobbed, arms outstretched. "I've finally found you! I've missed you so much!"
My parents recoiled, stiff with shock.
Dad's eyes narrowed. "Who the hell are you?"
The woman faltered, hurt flashing across her face. "I'm Alyssa… your daughter. The one who went missing ten years ago. Don't you remember me?"
Silence. The weight of her words hung in the air as my parents' eyes darted between her and Alyssa.
Alyssa's hands clenched into fists, but she forced a shaky smile. "Mom, Dad, she's lying! She's just some gold-digger trying to scam us!"
The woman's eyes blazed. "You're the fraud! Ten years ago, we were both kidnapped—but you escaped first and stole my life! My parents, my name, everything!"
Alyssa's voice turned shrill. "Get out! Now!" She lunged, but the woman dodged, sending Alyssa sprawling to the floor.
Then, the stranger yanked a crisp envelope from her bag and shoved it at Dad. "DNA proof. I'm your real daughter."
The room went dead silent as Dad opened it. His hands shook. Then—his expression twisted into fury.
Without warning, he backhanded Alyssa. The slap echoed like a gunshot.
"You filthy impostor!" he roared. "Ten years of lies! Do you have any idea what you've done?!"
The fake Alyssa scrambled up, bolting for the door—but the bodyguards intercepted her, dragging her back as she screamed.
The real Alyssa watched, tears streaming. My parents pulled her into a crushing embrace as she sobbed out her story—the abduction, the betrayal, the years of hell. Their faces crumpled with guilt.
Finally, she looked up, voice trembling with hope and fear.
"Mom… Dad… do you even remember me?"