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.”

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Ashley? You know we have family coming over, and you messed up her dress

a storm cloud. “Grace, you’re grounded. You stay here and think about what you’ve done.

was about to cry, and my mom was right there, soothing her with gentle words and a soft touch. I used to feel that warmth,

closer, only looked at me for a

no, they didn’t. They all left, a happy

a triumphant glance, as if

longer than two weeks for my mom’s Instagram to become a chronicle of Ashley’s adventures with our family,

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

been forgotten. Before I died in my previous life, I posted something on Instagram too. “If you don’t love me, why did you even have

all I got was being called a “Drama Queen“. Those tw words were what pushed me to jump off

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Chapter 35

a second thought.

1288 Vorchers

high school years back

the absence of constant conflict with Ashley allowed a significant shift in

of tension and frustration brought by the absence of

each morning.I was able to focus more

matter how much effort she put into it, she couldn’t reach

my pace.

senior year started, the school announced

was normal, every semester, and my parents would never come to mine, but I wanted to be optimistic, so

“Grace, you know Ashley has been struggling with her grades since her real parents passed away. We’ve already promised

I understand? No, I didn’t. I never understood why they had a preference for her