MARRY ME, UNCLE DMITRI (ENGLISH)

2.BITCH

I paid the taxi driver far more than the fare. It was the least I could do after keeping him occupied for hours while I cried my heart out.

He drove me home.

Neither my parents nor Susane had arrived yet, so I headed straight to my room. Every step felt heavier than the last. As soon as I stepped inside, I locked the door.

It was only late afternoon, but I already felt exhausted.

I walked into the bathroom. Without bothering to take off my clothes, I turned on the shower and sank to the tiled floor.

Cold water cascaded over me.

I felt the chill against my skin, but it was nothing compared to the ache in my chest.

"What did I ever do to deserve this?" I whispered between sobs, hugging my knees tightly. I rested my forehead against them as tears continued to fall.

"Why did you betray me?" My cries grew louder. I hated crying like this. Every sob made my chest ache, as though my heart were being crushed.

But what else could I do?

The two people I trusted the most had betrayed me.

I had no idea how long I'd been sitting there before someone knocked on my bedroom door.

It was Susane.

"Let's talk."

Her voice wasn't apologetic.

It sounded more like a command.

I ignored her and listened as her knocking became more impatient.

"Louella, you're not a child anymore. Stop hiding. You're an adult, so come out and talk to me. Don't pretend you can't hear me."

I slowly got to my feet.

Peeling my soaked clothes off, I finished my shower before wrapping myself in a bathrobe.

When I stepped out of the bathroom, Susane was already inside my room.

She immediately stood.

"Ella... let's talk."

Her voice suddenly softened.

She walked over and reached for my hand.

I pulled away at once.

"Don't touch me!"

I glared at the sister, who apparently had no sense of shame.

I'd caught her with my own eyes, yet she still looked ready to manipulate her way out of facing the consequences.

"Ella, I'm sorry. Magnus and I just got carried away. We never meant for it to happen."

I let out a humorless laugh.

"So that's your excuse?"

"You expect me to believe that after what I saw?"

My voice rose despite myself.

"What was it, then? Did he accidentally end up inside you?"

"Watch your mouth, Louella!" Susane snapped.

"We got carried away. That's all. It wasn't planned. Mom and Dad don't need to know about this. It's embarrassing—"

"You should be ashamed of yourself, Susane," I cut in coldly. "You slept with your own sister's boyfriend."

"You don't get to decide whether Mom and Dad find out."

"I do."

She swallowed hard.

"Ella, please. Don't tell them. I'm here to apologize. Please."

"No."

I shook my head.

"They're going to find out exactly what you did."

My entire body trembled with anger.

Yet instead of looking guilty...

She laughed.

I stared at her in disbelief.

"I'm not asking for my own sake, Ella."

Only moments ago, she'd sounded ready to beg.

Now every trace of remorse had disappeared.

She stepped closer until we were only inches apart, trying to intimidate me.

I didn't back away.

Not this time.

"The moment Dad finds out Magnus cheated on you," she said calmly, "guess who's going to get blamed."

A slow smile spread across her lips.

"You."

"He'll ask why Magnus cheated."

"Weren't you enough for him?"

"Weren't you a good girlfriend?"

"Didn't you take care of your relationship?"

Before I even realized what I was doing, my hand flew across her face.

Slap.

"How dare you, Susane!"

She rubbed her cheek before letting out another laugh.

The slap didn't seem to affect her at all.

Calmly, she sat on my bed and crossed her legs.

"Go ahead, Louella."

"Tell Daddy you caught Magnus and me sleeping together."

"Tell him your boyfriend cheated on you."

She smiled mockingly.

"Do you honestly think he'll take your side?"

"If Dad loses faith in you..."

"...don't be surprised if you're the one who gets kicked out of this house."

My hands curled into tight fists.

Susane was Dad's legitimate daughter.

My mother and I came before his marriage, but in this house...

We were the outsiders.

"And the worst part?" she continued.

"Your mother could lose her treatment."

"My father is the one paying her hospital bills."

"If he cuts off his support..."

She gave a soft, mocking laugh.

"What do you think will happen to her?"

To everyone else, Susane was the perfect daughter.

Graceful.

Soft-spoken.

Elegant.

Her mother never missed a chance to remind everyone of that.

People compared us constantly.

And somehow, I was always the one who came up short.

How could I ever compete when this house had always belonged to them?

"You've gone too far, Susane."

My voice cracked with emotion.

"What did I ever do to you?"

"I've always been a good sister."

"I've always tried to understand you—"

"Then understand me now," she interrupted.

"It was just sex."

She shrugged as if it meant nothing.

"That's all it was."

"Magnus is still with you."

"It only happened once."

"So, stop acting like it's the end of the world."

"If you don't want any trouble..."

"Keep your mouth shut."

"The nerve of you!"

I lunged at her.

I grabbed her hair, and she screamed.

Within seconds we were pulling, shoving, and struggling across the room.

It was the first time we'd ever fought like this.

Every ounce of anger I'd been suppressing exploded.

I kicked her hard enough that she crashed onto the floor.

"Damn you, Louella!" she shouted.

I stood there trembling, tears blurring my vision.

I wanted to hurt her even more.

I wanted her to feel even a fraction of the pain she'd caused me.

But I couldn't move.

She pushed herself up from the floor and shot me a venomous glare.

"Go ahead."

"Tell Daddy."

"I'll make sure your mother gets kicked out of the hospital."

"My family will stop paying for every single expense."

She smirked.

Then she turned on her heel and slammed the door behind her.

Silence filled the room.

The strength drained from my body.

I collapsed onto the floor and cried harder than ever.