Chapter 3: The Truth About Family
At the hospital, Sophie slept.
Eight stitches.
A mild concussion.
But she was safe.
That’s all that mattered.
I sat beside her bed when the door opened.
My father.
He looked older.
Smaller.
“We didn’t know,” he said.
I didn’t answer.
“He’s your brother,” he added. “You didn’t have to ruin him.”
That’s when I laughed.
A quiet, broken sound.
“He tried to ruin my daughter,” I said.
My mother stepped in behind him. “You’ve always been jealous of him—”
“Stop.”
One word.
And for the first time in my life…
She did.
“You watched him accuse her,” I continued. “You watched him hit her.”
My voice didn’t rise.
It didn’t need to.
“And you told me to leave.”
Silence.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
Final.
Then I stood up.
“You didn’t lose a son tonight,” I said.
“You lost a daughter.”
And I walked out.
May you like
This time—
For good.
