Chapter 3
1381 Words
Sera's POV
A bitter chuckle escaped my lips as my shoulders jerked. What a fool I was to think they would actually feel remorseful for what they did.
Not even a single apology.
"All these years… You adopted me just to use me. I played my part in helping you care for and protect your daughter. Didn't any of that mean anything?"
"You should be grateful that we picked you up from that orphanage," my adoptive father roared in anger.
"Honey, I told you that you spoiled her too much," my mother sighed, shaking her head as she looked at me with disgust.
"Mom, Dad, let's not fight. I'm sure Sera doesn't mean what she's saying—"
"Selene, you can drop that fake weak attitude. It makes me nauseous," I sneered before she could finish.
Selene’s soft eyes clenched shut as she tugged against Nate’s shirt, panting softly as if she had no strength.
Nate’s eyes widened as he placed a hand over her shoulders, caressing her gently. Looking back, he had never treated me with such care.
"Sera, you better watch what you say to Selene. You know she's not well," Nate barked.
"What about me?!" I cried out loud. A stunned silence followed as everyone’s eyes fixed on me.
"It's always Selene this, Selene that. Sera, protect your sister because you know she was born weak! But has anyone ever considered my feelings?" My teeth sank hard against my lips as I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath.
"Sera, why are you so ungrateful?" my adoptive father groaned.
I scoffed, shaking my head, still in disbelief.
When my eyes locked onto them, I forced a smile.
"Since the only reason I was adopted was because of your daughter, then fine. These past years, I've been donating my blood for Selene’s treatment, and now she has one of my kidneys. Take it as payment for your pathetic excuse of taking me in..."
The words clawed at my throat as I slipped the ring off my finger and turned to Nate.
"I don't want to marry you. I'll explain things to Grandmother. From now on, we have nothing to do with each other," I declared, throwing the ring straight at Nate's face.
Gasps filled the room. Nate stood frozen as his hand brushed against the cut on his cheek.
"Babe, you're bleeding!" Selene cried in distress.
Nate’s eyes flickered with shock before snapping toward me. "Sera, you witch. You'll regret this."
I rolled my eyes and spun on my heels.
"Sera, if you walk away, you will no longer be part of this family," my adoptive father growled.
"Go ahead," I said, my voice dripping with nonchalance. "I never was anyway."
I took another step forward, but Selene’s voice stopped me in my tracks.
"Sis, you know I’ll need your blood because of my condition, so you can’t leave. But if you do..." Selene sighed and then clicked her tongue.
"I’ll tell everyone your big dark secret."
Her voice echoed in my heart, and for a moment, I felt it stop.
Tears burned in my eyes, but I clenched my fists and turned to face her.
Selene stood straight, a fixed pout on her lips that made her look even more disgusting in my eyes.
I closed the distance between us, feeling everyone's gaze on me. "Now you don’t hesitate to show your true colors, huh?" I spat.
Selene shrugged. "If you leave, I’ll tell everyone that you—"
Whack!
My palm connected with Selene’s face. "Shut up!" I gritted my teeth as I staggered back.
My palm burned from the slap, but I clenched my hand into a fist.
I could see the imprint of my hand on her cheek. Selene started taking deep breaths, her eyes rolling to the back of her head—then she collapsed.
"Sera, what have you done?!" my adoptive mother screamed in fury.
*****
The door creaked open, and my head spun toward the sound.
My eyes softened as I watched Jessy, my best friend, hurry over to my side.
"My God, Seraphina, how could they treat you like this?"
Tears filled Jessy's eyes as she hugged me. I blinked my lashes, trying to see if this was really true or a dream.
"How did you get here?"
After I knocked Selene unconscious, my adoptive parents locked me inside my room with barely anything to eat.
I was used to this punishment. Whenever something happened, I was beaten up and locked inside the dark basement.
"Aunt Cleo told me what happened," Jessy urged, wrapping an arm around my waist. "I'm so sorry for not coming sooner."
"I'm fine," I shook my head weakly.
Aunt Cleo was our chef, and she had always been good to me. Whenever I was punished, she would sneak me a little bread so I wouldn't starve.
"What about my parents? If they see you—"
"Don't worry. Aunt Cleo told me they went out and won’t be back for a while. This is your chance to leave this cursed place."
Tears filled my eyes, and I nodded with determination.
Jessy led me outside. As we got into her car, she sighed, shaking her head.
"What were you thinking, hitting your adoptive sister?"
The tears began to roll, and I let them fall. My shoulders shook from the sobs.
"I can't believe it, Jessy. My adoptive parents knew about the relationship, and no one told me. I can't even believe Nate would do something like this."
Jessy shook her head with a sympathetic sigh. Throughout the drive, I ranted about everything my family had done.
"They're animals. It's sad that you're just realizing it now. Anyone could see how badly they treated you. I told you countless times, but you wouldn't listen," Jessy sighed.
"Don't worry. You can stay with me. My house is big enough for both of us," she added with a smile, and I offered a weak nod.
When we got to Jessy's house, I weakly strode into my new room, feeling completely numb. I needed a warm bath—maybe that would help clear my head.
The moment I caught my reflection in the mirror, tears streamed down my face. It was as if my eyes had finally opened to just how badly I was ruined.
Not to mention the hideous scar near my abdomen—the aftermath of the surgery.
I was twenty-five, but I could pass as a teenager because of my small frame. Due to years of constant blood donations, my body barely grew.
"How could they do this to me?" I whispered, taking ragged breaths.
I had done those things willingly, believing I was helping my sister and my family. But apparently, I was nothing more than a blood sack to them.
My fingers trembled as they traced the scar, each touch a cruel reminder of my blind devotion and their betrayal. I wanted it gone—erased from my skin, from my memory. Desperation clawed at my chest as I rubbed at it, harder and harder, until my skin burned. But no matter how much pressure I applied, it wouldn’t disappear. It was a wound that time refused to heal.
"Why?!" A fierce scream escaped my throat.
"Was it a crime to love you? To try to be something?" My lips quivered as I sank to the floor.
Sobs echoed across the room.
Then, slowly, the anger came.
It surged through me, and I gritted my teeth. I wanted them to pay for what they did.
My phone buzzed, and I sluggishly moved over to answer it. It was Nate’s grandmother.
I took a deep breath, running my hands through my hair.
"Hello, Grandmother," I answered coolly.
"Do you still have the right to call me Grandmother after what you did?"
From the tone of her voice, I knew she was furious.
"I'm really sorry, Grandmother, I—"
"My birthday is coming up on Saturday. I need you to be there—no buts," she stated, leaving no room for argument.
"But, Grandmother, I—"
The line went silent, and I sighed.
If I went to this party, there was no way I could avoid Nate and Selene.
"Damn it," I cursed under my breath.
- Writer
