They Abandoned Me, I Became Untouchable

Chapter 2

I stood frozen, my limbs rigid and twitching with pain.

Their words cut straight through me.

"I didn't..." My voice came out hoarse as I tried to explain.

Ava grabbed my hand and cut me off. "Annie, don't say anything else, or you'll only make them angry again. I know you hate me. But it's all over now. Besides, your face is ruined, so you've already learned your lesson. I won't hold it against you anymore."

Fighting down my disgust, I used what little strength I had to pull my hand free.

"Don't touch me..."

The words had barely left my mouth when Colton yanked Ava behind him and glared at me, shielding her as though I were the threat.

"That's enough! Come on, Ava. We're leaving."

They flanked Ava protectively as they led her out, just like they had at the docks that day. They didn't spare me so much as a cold glance.

At the door, Colton looked back and said coldly, "That face of yours is too hideous to show in public. Cover it at the wedding. Don't embarrass the family."

I suddenly felt as if I couldn't breathe.

My hand froze in midair as wave after wave of pain made me retch.

They had blamed everything on me without a shred of evidence.

A nurse hurried in and nearly collided with Colton. As they passed, he warned her in a low voice, "Clean this up, then come out immediately. Someone else needs looking after."

The nurse went pale with fear and nodded repeatedly.

I let out a cold laugh. The person he meant was Ava.

I had grown used to being treated this way. For a long time now, Ava had been the only person they seemed to see.

Before Ava came into our lives, that kind of attention had once been mine.

When my professor criticized my piano playing and I was so upset I almost cried, they would patiently sit with me and help me practice again and again.

When students at the academy bullied me, they rushed in without hesitation to stand up for me.

At the underground boxing club, they spent a fortune bringing in all the best fighters for me, just so I could have fun and keep winning.

They even flew to Greyhaven several times for a single diamond, all so I could wear the finest crown and attend banquets looking my best.

Then, 4 years ago, my parents began to worry that I wouldn't be able to manage the family's affairs on my own in the future. They chose Ava, a top student from the slums, and adopted her so she could help me.

When Ava first joined the family, Logan and Colton warned me again and again.

"People from the slums can't be trusted. You need to watch out for her."

Colton had even pointed straight at Ava and threatened her. "You were only brought into the Turner family to be Annie's servant. Letting you become an adopted daughter is already more than you deserve. Don't forget your place. If I ever find out you're plotting anything, I'll kill you myself."

Back then, I had tugged on his arm and protested, "Don't talk to her like that. Ava is my sister. Mom and Dad have already adopted her."

I couldn't say when things started to change.

Somewhere along the way, the roles reversed, and the same harsh words they had once directed at Ava were now aimed at me.

Colton would say, "Ava never had any of this growing up. You've been to plenty of banquets. Let her have this dress."

"Ava's never been to a casino. We're taking her this time."

"She only tried on your shoes. You have so many pairs, so what's wrong with giving them to her? She's your sister."

Later, I stopped allowing Ava into my room.

She burst into tears in front of me, slapped herself repeatedly, and apologized through sobs. "Annie, I really didn't take anything of yours. I would never steal from you."

She struck herself until her cheeks were red and swollen.

Colton and Logan looked heartbroken. They pulled her up, then turned on me.

"What proof do you have that she stole anything?"

"Everything you own was bought with this family's money anyway! Don't forget, Ava is an adopted daughter of the Turner family too."

"You're vicious. No one will ever want you if you keep acting like this."

Their words made my ears ring as I stood there, stunned.

I had never once accused Ava of stealing anything. Yet they hadn't even given me a chance to explain.

They believed only what they saw.

After that day, Colton and Logan rarely came to the estate to see me.

Whenever they did come, it was only for Ava.

In the end, my childhood friends had become someone else's devoted protectors.