Horrible Harper

Chapter One, Episode Four

Scene Nine — (The Discrimination Between Harper and Charles)

Interior – Daytime – Living Room

Harper had now grown into a young woman of twenty, while Charles had just turned ten, the golden boy of the family.

Outside in the garden, Harper played with one of the neighbor’s children. At first, her laughter mingled with his, but her tone carried a sharp edge, a suppressed storm hiding beneath a smile. Suddenly, in a burst of aggression, she shoved the child roughly, the innocence of play instantly shattered by her unpredictable temper. The boy cried out in shock, and Harper, breathing heavily, turned her back on him without a word.

She stormed toward the wooden house, her steps quick, her jaw clenched. Pushing open the door, she entered the living room. There, in a warm family tableau, Margaret and Robert sat together with Charles between them. They laughed, their joy echoing like music in the room, their eyes fixed only on the boy. Charles’s face glowed with delight, soaking in every ounce of the affection poured upon him.

Harper stood silently in the doorway, frozen. Her eyes, sharp and burning, fixed upon the scene. For a few long seconds, she did not move. Her heart clenched tighter with each laugh, each smile that seemed to exclude her. It was as if the walls themselves echoed the truth she had long known but never dared to voice: Charles was loved more. Charles was preferred.

Her lips trembled, her breathing quickened. It felt like an invisible hand pressing down on her chest, suffocating her. The love she once longed for was given freely to another, leaving her in the shadows. In that fleeting moment, a mixture of jealousy and pain swirled within her, too heavy for her young spirit to bear.

Without speaking, she turned sharply on her heel, her footsteps pounding against the wooden floor. She climbed the stairs quickly, her body trembling with rage, and entered her room. The door slammed behind her with a violent thud that echoed through the quiet of the house.

Inside the room, Harper stopped at the center. The silence felt unbearable, as though the walls mocked her isolation. Her eyes fell on the scooter Robert had once brought her years ago, a gift meant to bring joy. But now, it was nothing more than a reminder of false love, of the attention that had slowly drifted away from her to her younger brother.

Her face twisted with pain as she walked toward it. She lifted the scooter with both hands, her fingers gripping it tightly, her arms shaking with fury. With a sudden cry, she hurled it to the ground. The crash filled the room, the sound of metal clattering against the floor resonating like the echo of her breaking heart.

Breathing heavily, Harper stumbled toward the far corner of the room. She lowered herself to the ground, curling into herself. Tears streamed down her cheeks, hot and bitter, as sobs wracked her small frame.

She buried her face in her hands, the weight of loneliness pressing down on her chest. The house was full of laughter, but none of it was for her. The boy who was supposed to be her brother had stolen not just her parents’ love, but also the fragile peace of her heart.

And there, in the shadows of her room, Harper wept—alone, unseen, unheard.

🔮 Chapter Two – Between Jealousy and Madness 🔮

Will Harper’s aggressive behavior continue to escalate until it becomes a nightmare that threatens the entire family? Or does she still have enough patience left within her to keep herself from collapsing?

What will her relationship with Charles be like—the pampered son who received all the love and attention? Will she see him as an enemy, or remain a brother who bears no fault?

And Robert, the torn father… will he take a firm decision to protect his family, or remain trapped in his conflicting emotions toward his adopted daughter?

As for Margaret—can she still control Harper now that she has reached twenty, with anger blazing deep inside her?

And what is the secret behind the psychological illness slowly consuming Harper’s mind, pushing her toward an uncertain fate?

🌑 Thrilling events, dark secrets, and shocking twists await you in Chapter Two…

Happy reading.