"NARA POV
The music had stopped playing. I could feel the gaze and murmurs on me.The commotion had attracted everyone at the party.
"She was just a brought and she had started putting on high airs"
"Ellie is better than her, if I was Mr Smith I wouldn't take her back, or introduce her as my daughter"
"So evil, how could she treat Ellie that way"
I could feel everywhere closing in on me. They never believed me.
"Mom, don't shout at sister she didn't mean to" Ellie hugged my mom, while staring at me.
I could feel her taunting gaze as she left out a smile.
"Mom please believe me I didn't hit or push her she fell on her own. Why don't you believe me, aren't I you're child?". I questioned tears pouring down, my hands fisted by my side.
My dad suddenly slapped me and I could feel the stinging pain on my cheek.
" You know what? Have had enough, ever since you came you've been looking for one way or another to frame her, what has she done to you?".
"I guess she's just jealous of her". Someone from the crowd said I could hear everyone mutter in agreement to that.
I pushed my way through the crowd gasping for air, I could feel my feet wobble against the floor.
I felt so ashamed and hurt, I wished the group could just open and swallow me.
It seemed heaven heard my pleas, before I was suddenly surrounded by darkness.
" She's just pretending," I heard before losing the tiny bit of consciousness I had.
****
I adjusted my eyes to the tiny bit of light coming from the window.
For a moment I couldn't remember where I was.
Till I saw the low ceiling that seemed to press down on me, the dusty smell , the cold floor and the uncomfortable bed I was laying on. There was hardly enough room for me to stretch my leg.
I was in my room. Or rather a basement.
When I arrived, I was asked to pick a room. The room I had picked turned out to be Ellie's room who cried saying she didn't want to leave her room but she would since I was the biological daughter.
Hearing that no one asked for an explanation they decided to send me to the basement not caring how I would feel.
I was their daughter yet I was treated worse than a maid.
Hurried footsteps sounded, before the door swung open.
"Nara, you're awake". Ann stood there, breathing heavily, looking relieved when she saw me.
" How are you feeling?".
"I'm fi-" I didn't get to finish.
Two maids barged into the room, grabbed my arms, and dragged me outside.
"Wait! What are you doing?". They didn't answer.
I stumbled across the hallway, my feet scraping against the cold tiled floor, before shoving me forward at my father's feet.
My palm stung against the floor. I looked up slowly at my father's face. He was red from anger.
"You insolent child"
Before I could understand what was going on, his palm struck my face.
My head snapped to the side. For several seconds, I couldn't move.
My cheek burned, I held my trembling palm up, trying to soothe the pain but it seemed to get worse.
This was the second time I had been hit and it was from my biological Father.
"Dad..."
"How dare you bring disgrace to this family" He yelled, not looking remorseful from the fact that he laid his hands on me.
My throat tightened as I tried forcing a lump down.
"What did I do?".
" What did you do?Wow". He scoffed, giving a bitter laugh.
His voice rose with every word. “Ever since you were brought back to this place, you've done nothing but drag this family name through the mud. And now you've gotten yourself pregnant, you have the audacity to ask me what you did wrong”.
The room went silent.
“Preg… pregnant” I stared at him, heart pounding. I hoped I heard wrong.
No. That wasn't possible, how could I be?.
“I'm not pregnant”. My voice shook as I stared from my father to my mother. I was sure this was one of Ellie's schemes to get me out of the house.
“I've never been with a man”.
My mother's expression hardened, scoffing out. “So what are you saying?. You're the second virgin Mary?”
Someone snickered and I could feel heat rushing to my face.
“Dad, mom…” Ellie spoke softly.
I turned my head towards her direction. She was standing halfway in the staircase, One hand delicately leaning on the railing.
“Maybe my sister is telling the truth” She paused, taking a step down.
I couldn't ignore the little hope that ignited from her words. I knew I shouldn't allow that but I just needed it.
Ellie continued. “I think we should call the family doctor so he can run the test again, since sister doesn't believe or go to the hospital”. She suggested acting concerned but behind it was something else.
My father stepped forward. “Tell me who the father is?
“There's no father”.
“Tell me”. He kicked the table beside me and it crashed against the wall making me flinch.
“Tell me who put that bastard in you?”.
Tears that I tried holding in finally slipped down my cheek.
“I don't know what you're talking about”
“ You expect me to believe that”
“I know my own body”. The word slipped out before I could hold it in.
There was no way… it couldn't be…
No.. No.. My stomach twisted. It can't be.
It's impossible..
“You know what, take her back to her room, she's grounded, take away all her electronics and don't give her any food until I say so” He said sitting down on the couch.
“It's okay dad” Ellie sat close to him holding his hand.
Two maids grabbed my arms and I was dragged the same way I was dragged him.