Chapter 3 - Engagement
1016 Words
Elara’s POV.
I groaned as I struggled to stand. My palms pressed against the floor, my arms trembling from the effort. My body ached, but the pain didn’t matter. What hurt more was this.
“I didn’t do it!” I tried to explain. “It wasn’t me. She was the one who pushed me!”
“I-I would never do that…” Vanessa whispered weakly. “Why would I push Elara? I was just trying to talk to her. She suddenly got angry…”
Tears spilled down her cheeks as she shook her head over and over. She looked so pitiful that anyone would believe her at first glance. Julian didn’t even spare me a glance. His eyes stayed on her.
“And why would Vanessa even push you?” he snapped. “We all know you’re jealous of her, Elara. Honestly, you were lucky enough that all these years we looked after you. Now that our attention is on her, you can’t stand it.”
“I’m not jealous!” I retorted. “I never was. I was on my way to my room, but she blocked my way. She grabbed my things and shoved me!”
Sebastian frowned, his brows knitting together, but there was no sympathy in his eyes.
“Enough, Elara,” he hissed. “You always say the same thing. Every time something happens, it’s never your fault.”
I laughed weakly, the sound bitter even to my own ears. “So no matter what I say, you won’t believe me?”
Vanessa suddenly looked up and shook her head quickly. “I didn’t want to say anything… but she’s been hostile toward me for a long time. I endured it because she’s your sister.”
Julian immediately stepped closer to her and placed a hand on her shoulder. “You’re our sister. No one is allowed to bully you in this house.”
Vanessa sniffled again and lowered her head. “Maybe it’s my fault. I shouldn’t have gotten in her way. If I hadn’t spoken to her, this wouldn’t have happened…”
Sebastian shook his head. “No. This isn’t your fault,” he said firmly. Then, he turned to me coldly. “You should apologize.”
Apologize?
I stared at him in disbelief. “You want me to apologize for being pushed? For falling?”
“You fell because you lost control of yourself. Stop blaming Vanessa.”
I had never felt so small. My heart ached, but I refused to cry. I forced myself to stand taller, but my shoulders slumped anyway. That place— standing behind them and being protected— used to be mine. Now, they didn’t even see me as their sister. I wasn’t even treated like a person.
“I won’t apologize,” I spat. “I didn’t do anything wrong. I don’t owe anyone an apology.”
“You really have changed. You’re impossible to deal with now.”
I opened my mouth to defend myself one last time, but suddenly, I felt tired. I couldn’t argue anymore. What was the point? I hadn’t changed. They just stopped seeing me. And no matter how much pain I was in, no matter how many times I told the truth, in their eyes, I would always be the liar.
How could they believe me when Vanessa was already crying so convincingly?
Vanessa bit her lip and murmured, “Please don’t blame Elara too harshly. I don’t want her to hate me even more.”
I couldn’t help but roll my eyes. She really knew how to play the victim.
Julian’s eyes softened instantly. “See? Even now, you’re still thinking about her.” His gaze hardened again when it returned to me. “Learn from her. If you had even half of her kindness, things wouldn’t have come to this.”
A moment later, we all turned toward the entrance as Father and Mother arrived, along with Marcus. He was the son of the Wolfhart clan, the strongest warrior family in the pack. The man who used to stand beside me wherever I went. The man who was my fiancé.
“Marcus…” I whispered.
His eyes landed on me first. He stepped forward, kneeling slightly to help me up. When I stood, my legs wobbled, and without thinking, I leaned slightly toward him.
“Careful,” he murmured.
That single word, spoken so gently, sent a warmth through my chest. It shouldn’t have felt comforting, but it did. My heart thumped painfully, as if it remembered something it shouldn’t. He was the only one who ever treated me like a person, not a mistake.
“Thank you,” I managed to say.
Father cleared his throat loudly, and Mother’s smile was almost dazzling. Their attention was focused entirely on Vanessa.
“Everyone, we have wonderful news!” Father announced.
He was about to continue when his gaze finally dropped to me— standing there, holding myself upright only because Marcus was beside me. His expression changed instantly.
“Elara,” he greeted indifferently.
“She bullied Vanessa again,” Julian tattled.
Mother frowned deeply. “Again?”
“I didn’t—” I tried to speak, but Father raised his hand, cutting me off.
“Enough,” he said sharply. “I’m tired of your excuses.”
They didn’t help me. They didn’t ask if I was hurt. Their eyes held only anger, as if my presence had offended them and ruined their mood. Even Marcus’ hand on mine loosened slightly, as if he didn’t know whether he was allowed to support me.
Mother sighed and turned back to Vanessa. “Are you alright, dear?”
Vanessa nodded shyly, wiping her tears. “I’m fine, Mother. I don’t want to cause trouble.”
She stepped closer to Marcus, standing by his side so naturally it made my chest ache. My vision blurred slightly as I watched them together.
Father smiled again and continued, “As I was saying, at the upcoming birthday banquet, Marcus and Vanessa will officially announce their engagement!”
- Writer
