Twice Betrayed- Reborn in Flames - Chapter 4: Chapter 4
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"Eleanor," he growled, his voice dripping with menace, "are you trying to pick a fight?"
Before I could respond, Joanne's fake sobs filled the room. She placed a trembling hand on my shoulder, playing the victim. "Eleanor, really, I don't need you to defend me," she said, her voice quivering with false humility.
Then, in one swift motion, she grabbed my necklace and yanked it hard.
Tears streamed down her cheeks as she whimpered, "You and Gerald have been through so much together. Please don't fight because of me."
The delicate chain snapped, clattering to the floor. I lunged for it, but my stitches tore open as I tumbled off the bed, white-hot pain searing through my back like fire.
It was too late. The ruby necklace—my brother's final gift to me—lay shattered beyond repair.
My mother had died bringing me into this world, and this necklace was my brother's way of watching over me. Alma had told me how, in his last moments, he'd begged her to buy it for my protection. It had survived two car crashes... only for Joanne to destroy it in an instant.
Tears blurred my vision as grief clawed at my chest. But before I could react, Joanne leaned in, her whisper venomous. "You're tougher than I thought, Eleanor. Even two accidents couldn't finish you off."
A cold dread slithered down my spine as she continued, "Not like your brother. One little push was all it took. Did you know he was still coughing up blood at the end? And yet all he could talk about was the chicken soup he'd made for you."
Suddenly, I could hear my brother's voice—warm, loving—echoing in my mind:
"Eleanor, the soup's in the fridge. Don't forget to eat it after work, okay?"
"You need to take care of yourself. And don't worry about your weight—my little sister is cutest with some meat on her bones."
"Oh, and those spicy snacks you love? I made a fresh batch. They're in the lower-right cabinet. No guilt, promise? Just tell me when you're running low."
The pain was unbearable, like acid eating me alive from the inside.
Blind with rage, I swung at Joanne. "You murdered him!" But she was already collapsing dramatically, clutching her face with wide, tear-filled eyes. "Eleanor!" she gasped. "I was just telling the truth! Why would you hit me?"
She broke into weak coughs, her voice trembling. "Gerald... my chest... Is this from the accident?"
Gerald rushed to her side, pulling her away from me like I was some rabid animal. "Have you lost your damn mind?" he snapped. "You wreck her car, drain public resources, and now you're accusing her of murder? When did you become so cruel?"
I stared at him, stunned. After eight years... this was how he saw me?
Outside, the snow-covered world blurred as memories surfaced—of a freezing New Year's Eve in college, when Gerald had run across half the city to find that ridiculous white dog hat I'd wanted.
I could still see him breathless, placing it on my head as I swatted his chest through tears. "You idiot! Was this really worth freezing over?"
His hands had warmed mine as he kissed my forehead. "Of course it was. Look how perfect it is on you."
Then fireworks had exploded above us, painting the frost-laced trees in brilliant, shimmering colors.
Now, those colors felt like a lifetime away.
Before I could respond, Joanne's fake sobs filled the room. She placed a trembling hand on my shoulder, playing the victim. "Eleanor, really, I don't need you to defend me," she said, her voice quivering with false humility.
Then, in one swift motion, she grabbed my necklace and yanked it hard.
Tears streamed down her cheeks as she whimpered, "You and Gerald have been through so much together. Please don't fight because of me."
The delicate chain snapped, clattering to the floor. I lunged for it, but my stitches tore open as I tumbled off the bed, white-hot pain searing through my back like fire.
It was too late. The ruby necklace—my brother's final gift to me—lay shattered beyond repair.
My mother had died bringing me into this world, and this necklace was my brother's way of watching over me. Alma had told me how, in his last moments, he'd begged her to buy it for my protection. It had survived two car crashes... only for Joanne to destroy it in an instant.
Tears blurred my vision as grief clawed at my chest. But before I could react, Joanne leaned in, her whisper venomous. "You're tougher than I thought, Eleanor. Even two accidents couldn't finish you off."
A cold dread slithered down my spine as she continued, "Not like your brother. One little push was all it took. Did you know he was still coughing up blood at the end? And yet all he could talk about was the chicken soup he'd made for you."
Suddenly, I could hear my brother's voice—warm, loving—echoing in my mind:
"Eleanor, the soup's in the fridge. Don't forget to eat it after work, okay?"
"You need to take care of yourself. And don't worry about your weight—my little sister is cutest with some meat on her bones."
"Oh, and those spicy snacks you love? I made a fresh batch. They're in the lower-right cabinet. No guilt, promise? Just tell me when you're running low."
The pain was unbearable, like acid eating me alive from the inside.
Blind with rage, I swung at Joanne. "You murdered him!" But she was already collapsing dramatically, clutching her face with wide, tear-filled eyes. "Eleanor!" she gasped. "I was just telling the truth! Why would you hit me?"
She broke into weak coughs, her voice trembling. "Gerald... my chest... Is this from the accident?"
Gerald rushed to her side, pulling her away from me like I was some rabid animal. "Have you lost your damn mind?" he snapped. "You wreck her car, drain public resources, and now you're accusing her of murder? When did you become so cruel?"
I stared at him, stunned. After eight years... this was how he saw me?
Outside, the snow-covered world blurred as memories surfaced—of a freezing New Year's Eve in college, when Gerald had run across half the city to find that ridiculous white dog hat I'd wanted.
I could still see him breathless, placing it on my head as I swatted his chest through tears. "You idiot! Was this really worth freezing over?"
His hands had warmed mine as he kissed my forehead. "Of course it was. Look how perfect it is on you."
Then fireworks had exploded above us, painting the frost-laced trees in brilliant, shimmering colors.
Now, those colors felt like a lifetime away.
End of Twice Betrayed- Reborn in Flames Chapter 4. Continue reading Chapter 5 or return to Twice Betrayed- Reborn in Flames book page.