I Don’t Need Your Fake Love by Melandia

Chapter 35

They were always telling me that, if I played nice with Ashley, things would go easier for me.

But here was the thing. Ashley’s parents were gone, and mine were still around, but they chose to ignore me over her. So, what made my life any different from an orphan?

It was Christmas. I was in the kitchen filling up a pot with water when Ashley strutted in, all dressed up in her newest dress. “Grace, do you think this dress looks good on me?”

I ignored her and tried to move past her.

But she wasn’t having it. She latched onto my arm from behind. “I’m waiting for an answer.” I frowned, trying to pull

away.

She grabbed my other hand, splashed herself with the hot water, and then let out a scream. “Please no Grace!”

“What are you doing?!” I asked her.

“Who do you think Mom’s going to believe, you or me?” Ashley smirked, and right on cue, my mom walked in and saw the whole thing, just the way Ashley had set it up.

“Grace, if you’ve got an issue, you come to me,” my mom said, her voice heavy with disappointment. “Why would you do this to Ashley?”

Ashley was all teary–eyed, playing the victim. “Mom, please don’t be mad at Grace. It’s my fault.”

0.00%

0 <

Chapter 35

11 222

my arm. “Are you jealous of Ashley? You know we have family coming over, and you messed up

You stay here and think about what you’ve done. Ashley, go

and my mom was right there, soothing her with gentle words and a soft touch. I used to

looked at me for a moment, they might have seen the burn

happy little family of four,

was leaving, Ashley shot me a triumphant glance, as if

for my mom’s Instagram to become a chronicle of Ashley’s adventures with our family, showcasing their delicious meals

a cake once, but it was only for her, and they didn’t even share a slice of it with

my previous life, I posted something on Instagram too.

“Drama Queen“. Those tw words were what pushed me to

25.56%

O

III

O

<

Chapter 35

a second thought.

1288 Vorchers

my whole high school years back then living in that

the absence of constant conflict with Ashley allowed a

tension and frustration brought by the absence of

each morning.I was able to focus more

effort she put

my pace.

second semester of our senior year

to mine, but I wanted

with her grades since her real parents passed away. We’ve already promised to go to her

I never understood why they had a preference for her over