Chapter 1 Humiliation
That night, the Beaumont family held a birthday party.
Smack.
Finished
A sharp crack echoed through the living room. Isla Beaumont’s head spun, her cheek stinging and going numb.
Guests turned to look, their curious glances quickly shifting into open disdain.
“Apologize to Aurora.” Julian Beaumont trembled with fury, eyes blazing with such wrath it was as if he wanted to devour her. In that moment, Isla was no longer his daughter; she was his
enemy.
Dressed in a plain courier’s uniform, Isla now stood drenched in red wine. Pressing a hand to her burning cheek, she met her father’s gaze, stubborn yet aggrieved. “I didn’t do anything wrong. Why should I apologize?”
Julian’s chest heaved with rage.
“Dad, please don’t be angry,” Aurora Beaumont interjected softly, clutching her own reddened cheek. Her eyes brimmed with tears, her pitiful expression enough to melt hearts. “It’s not Isla’s fault. I came back so suddenly. It’s only natural she can’t accept it right away. I don’t blame her. It’s on me. I was too eager to reunite with everyone.”
Seeing the palm print on Aurora’s delicate face, Julian snapped. His hand struck out again, slapping Isla so hard she collapsed onto the floor, completely disregarding the guests‘ sneers and whispers.
The gift box Isla had been carrying tumbled out of her pocket, spilling open to reveal a neatly folded striped tie.
Isla scrambled to grab it, but someone was quicker.
“What’s this piece of junk?” A teenage boy, about seventeen or eighteen, snatched the tie and carelessly tossed the box aside.
“Give it back,” Isla snapped, glaring at her mischievous younger brother. “That’s Dad’s birthday present.”
Lucas Beaumont let out a mocking laugh, twirling the tie between his fingers. “Are you kidding me, Isla? You bought Dad something this cheap? Are you trying to embarrass him?”
Lucas flung the tie to the ground like garbage. Just as Isla reached for it, Lucas pinned it under his shoe, grinding it with a cruel smirk. “Say sorry to Aurora, and maybe I’ll give it back. How
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Chapter 1 Humiliation
about that?”
Clenching her fists, Isla glared at him in fury.
Aurora had only been back for two years, and yet everything had changed.
Aurora had stolen Isla’s parents, her brothers, her fiancé–turning them all against Isla.
Naively, Isla once believed that if she tried hard enough, Aurora might accept her.
Finished
But instead, Aurora snatched away her parents‘ affection, poisoned her brother’s mind against her, and even set her up, nearly getting her raped.
Aurora would console her afterward, pretending to be kind and selfless, making Isla feel indebted only to release a video online the very next day. Overnight, Isla’s reputation was ruined. She became the school’s laughingstock. Even her boyfriend turned his back on her, calling her filthy.
Isla tried explaining to her family, to her boyfriend, to her classmates, but all she received in return was scorn. “You don’t respect yourself,” they jeered, words like knives stabbing into her
heart.
When Isla finally discovered the truth and confronted Aurora in anger, everyone simply sneered at her. “You’re disgusting, Isla. Aurora nearly lost her life saving you, and she’s always treated you so well. And this is how you repay her? You’re ungrateful. No wonder misery follows you.”
Yes, maybe she did deserve it.
She never should have trusted Aurora. If not for Aurora’s message luring her out that night, she never would have gone through that horror, only to be misunderstood by everyone afterward.
Isla had always been proud, brilliant, unwilling to lower herself by explaining. She thought those who loved her would naturally believe her.
But she was wrong.
No one believed her.
Now, Isla was utterly abandoned, left with nothing.
Though Isla had stormed out after that fight with Aurora, her heart still longed for her family.
Isla had worked two part–time jobs for months, all because her father had once mentioned he liked that brand of tie.
Isla never expected that the gift she bought with so much hope would be met with Aurora’s
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B
86
venom, a glass of wine thrown in her face–and still, everyone insisted it was Isla’s fault.
Her father didn’t even give Isla a chance to explain before striking her.
Finished
Two slaps in quick succession left blood at the corner of her mouth, the taste of iron flooding her tongue.
Her entire face burned with pain.
And still Lucas mocked her, grinding her gift underfoot.
Her two older brothers stood by, watching with cold, indifferent eyes.
Her mother cradled Aurora in her arms, glaring at Isla with nothing but disgust.
It was as if Isla were nothing but trash, tainting their very sight.
Isla’s chest ached so fiercely that it had gone numb. Her eyes burned, yet not a single tear would fall.
“You still won’t apologize? You’ve lost all sense of respect–how dare you lay a hand on Aurora?” Cora Beaumont held Aurora in her arms, soothing her gently, but when her gaze cut to Isla, it turned razor sharp, frozen with disdain.
Clenching her fists, Isla looked at the family staring at her with such indifference. A chill seeped into her bones. “No, I won’t. I did nothing wrong.”
Her voice was steady, firm. Even if everyone thought she was guilty, she refused to bow her head.
She wasn’t wrong.
“Get out. You’re not worthy of being my daughter.” Julian’s fury boiled over; he was ready to grab a stick and beat her. On his birthday, of all nights, she had brought shame to his house.
Isla bit down on her lip, shot him a seething glare, and turned to run.
Now Isla understood–there was no place left for her in this family. To them, there was only Aurora. There was no room for Isla at all.
So why did Isla still cling to them, still crave even the faintest scrap of affection?
Behind her, Lucas’s angry voice rang out. He wasn’t upset that she’d been thrown out, only enraged that she had left without apologizing.
Isla’s figure grew smaller under the moonlight, lonelier with every step. She hadn’t gone far before Aurora’s anxious voice followed. “Isla, wait–please let me explain. Don’t go.”
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Finished
Bile rose in Isla’s throat. She quickened her pace, unwilling to look at that vile woman for even
a second more.
Suddenly, headlights flared ahead, blinding her. Isla couldn’t see clearly and instinctively raised her hand to flag the car down.
But Aurora’s tone shifted, sharp and mocking. “Why are you in such a hurry, Isla? Weren’t you so bold earlier, swearing you’d expose me in front of everyone?”
Isla froze mid–step, whipping around, rage burning in her eyes. “You, don’t you dare—”
Before Isla could finish, a deafening bang split the night.
Her body lifted off the ground, weightless for a moment, before pain exploded through every inch of her, as if her bones had shattered all at once.
Her head hit the pavement, warm liquid spilling from her ear, staining her vision crimson.
Through the haze, Isla dimly saw her family rushing over. Her mother’s face filled her blurry sight. Isla stretched out a trembling hand. “Help–help me, Mom”
But Cora stopped short. Instead, she threw her arms around Aurora, relief flooding her features. “You scared me half to death, Aurora. Thank God you’re alright.”
“Why waste your breath on her?” Julian snapped coldly. “Better she dies–saves us the shame later.”
Lucas sneered, his voice dripping with mockery. “That’s what you get for bullying Aurora. Serves you right.”
“I’m not helping you,” another brother scoffed. “You’re filthy.”
Then Felix Langston, the boyfriend Isla had loved, climbed out of the car. His face twisted in panic. “It wasn’t my fault. She ran out.”
Broken, numb, Isla lay there bleeding, despair hollowing her out as her consciousness slipped
away.
At last, all their voices faded into silence.
Send Gifts
=3
