The Fake Heiress Stole My Fiancé - Chapter 4: Chapter 4
You are reading The Fake Heiress Stole My Fiancé, Chapter 4: Chapter 4. Read more chapters of The Fake Heiress Stole My Fiancé.
My fists tightened silently as I hung up the dress and chose a simple long-sleeved outfit instead.
When I emerged, Lucian's concerned eyes met mine. "You've lost so much weight," he said, frowning. "You're skin and bones now - even thinner than when we first met. Is the cafeteria food that terrible?"
I ignored him and walked straight to the dining table.
Back when I'd left my rural village, I'd been malnourished and frail. Lucian had helped me put on some healthy weight, but now I'd wasted away again.
Throughout dinner, Lucian kept piling food onto my plate. "You need to eat more," he insisted.
Across the table, Elaine gripped her silverware so tightly her knuckles turned white, her expression mournful. "This is all my fault," she choked out. "I stole Raina's place in this family. That's why she's been going hungry and cold."
She dropped her fork with a clatter, burying her face in her hands as sobs wracked her body. Mom rushed to her side. "Sweetheart, none of this is your fault. You're just a child caught in an unfortunate situation."
Dad nodded in agreement. "Your sister just drew the short straw, that's all."
Their words hit me like a physical blow, freezing me in place.
Elaine pushed Mom away dramatically. "If only I'd never been born!" she wailed. "Then Raina wouldn't have to suffer like this!"
Lucian immediately stood and gathered Elaine into a comforting embrace, stroking her hair. "Elaine, you're too good for this world," he murmured. "Stop punishing yourself, okay?"
She clung to him like a lifeline, her cries growing more hysterical. "I owe Raina everything! I'll never buy clothes again - she can have all of mine!"
The three of them formed a tight huddle of consolation around her while I observed from the outside, completely numb.
What a perfect, loving family.
There was a time I'd desperately craved that kind of parental affection. Back then, I hadn't known my adoptive parents weren't my biological family. Too young to understand why they treated me with such indifference, I'd tried everything to earn their approval.
Every day after work, I'd go begging and collecting scrap metal, handing over every penny I earned. But instead of gratitude, they'd beat me while calling me worthless, complaining I never brought home enough.
Then one day, I saw a sick child being rushed to the hospital by his weeping parents. Starved for that kind of love, I hatched a plan to make my parents feel guilty.
I spent an entire day submerged in the icy river. Sure enough, by nightfall I was burning up with fever. But I'd miscalculated terribly - if they didn't love me, they wouldn't care at all.
They threw me out into the pouring rain.
Eventually, I dragged myself into the cowshed for shelter. Maybe my survival instinct was too strong - somehow, I pulled through that fever alone.
Now, I wiped away the memory like tears. This time, I wouldn't make the same mistake. Never again.
When I emerged, Lucian's concerned eyes met mine. "You've lost so much weight," he said, frowning. "You're skin and bones now - even thinner than when we first met. Is the cafeteria food that terrible?"
I ignored him and walked straight to the dining table.
Back when I'd left my rural village, I'd been malnourished and frail. Lucian had helped me put on some healthy weight, but now I'd wasted away again.
Throughout dinner, Lucian kept piling food onto my plate. "You need to eat more," he insisted.
Across the table, Elaine gripped her silverware so tightly her knuckles turned white, her expression mournful. "This is all my fault," she choked out. "I stole Raina's place in this family. That's why she's been going hungry and cold."
She dropped her fork with a clatter, burying her face in her hands as sobs wracked her body. Mom rushed to her side. "Sweetheart, none of this is your fault. You're just a child caught in an unfortunate situation."
Dad nodded in agreement. "Your sister just drew the short straw, that's all."
Their words hit me like a physical blow, freezing me in place.
Elaine pushed Mom away dramatically. "If only I'd never been born!" she wailed. "Then Raina wouldn't have to suffer like this!"
Lucian immediately stood and gathered Elaine into a comforting embrace, stroking her hair. "Elaine, you're too good for this world," he murmured. "Stop punishing yourself, okay?"
She clung to him like a lifeline, her cries growing more hysterical. "I owe Raina everything! I'll never buy clothes again - she can have all of mine!"
The three of them formed a tight huddle of consolation around her while I observed from the outside, completely numb.
What a perfect, loving family.
There was a time I'd desperately craved that kind of parental affection. Back then, I hadn't known my adoptive parents weren't my biological family. Too young to understand why they treated me with such indifference, I'd tried everything to earn their approval.
Every day after work, I'd go begging and collecting scrap metal, handing over every penny I earned. But instead of gratitude, they'd beat me while calling me worthless, complaining I never brought home enough.
Then one day, I saw a sick child being rushed to the hospital by his weeping parents. Starved for that kind of love, I hatched a plan to make my parents feel guilty.
I spent an entire day submerged in the icy river. Sure enough, by nightfall I was burning up with fever. But I'd miscalculated terribly - if they didn't love me, they wouldn't care at all.
They threw me out into the pouring rain.
Eventually, I dragged myself into the cowshed for shelter. Maybe my survival instinct was too strong - somehow, I pulled through that fever alone.
Now, I wiped away the memory like tears. This time, I wouldn't make the same mistake. Never again.
End of The Fake Heiress Stole My Fiancé Chapter 4. Continue reading Chapter 5 or return to The Fake Heiress Stole My Fiancé book page.