Thomas pursed his lips. “Not really good.”

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Natasha went on, “Remember when I was in eighth grade? The roses Olivia planted in the garden withered, and she cried so hard. So you scolded me and made me replant them under the scorching sun.

“And that New Year’s dance party? Olivia’s dance shoes got ruined, and the moment I stepped into the backstage, you forced me to throw mine away too. That day, neither of us got to perform.

“In freshman year, during the family trip, I got lost and finally stumbled back after hours–only for you to claim I’d lured Olivia out till she collapsed…”

There were countless unresolved incidents, but these were the ones where Natasha was clearly wronged.

The roses were pulled out by some relative’s mischievous kid. The dance shoes were sabotaged by someone jealous of Olivia. Olivia fainted because Noel took her to ride extreme amusement park rides in secret…

With every ugly truth laid bare, Thomas just stood there, mouth hanging open. ‘Had Natasha really endured so much unfairness without anyone noticing?‘ he wondered.

“Every time, you never gave me a chance to explain. No room for defense, no place to hide—just endless accusations and punishments,” Natasha added.

“That’s because you were always at odds with Olivia…” Thomas mumbled.

“In kindergarten, when I fought with the chubby kid next to me, the teacher called the parents. You rushed over from the elementary school next door and said your little sister would never be in the wrong. If I disliked someone, it must’ve been their fault.”

Right or wrong didn’t matter much. A biased heart would always justify its own stance.

Natasha stared at him, her beautiful eyes glistening with tears. “Thomas, when I was little, you used to protect me like that, too.”

Thomas, who had come to confront her, fled in a panic without even demanding that Natasha call off the phone harassment.

Natasha watched her older brother scramble away like a spooked rabbit. The heartbroken look she’d worn just seconds earlier slipped right off her face, replaced by a cool, blank mask.

‘See? I knew how to play weak and cry, too.

I just never did it because what’s the point of love you have to fight for? What Olivia stole was the unwavering, unconditional favor I should’ve had from my family,‘ she said to herself.

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Chapter 19

“You’re upset?” A large hand touched her eyes.

standing by the door for who knew

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preventing him from moving. “It’s fine

was enough to make him persuade his family

Alexei had arranged for her,

refuse just because she felt soft toward those who hurt her? Even if the helper might

Clark family out of the picture, Natasha and Alexei officially started their homebody

artist. After her foot injury ended her dancing career,

family about her art–otherwise, she might’ve ended up

in the house, Natasha’s former

to bed, early to rise, then a morning walk to grab breakfast. Mornings were for work and painting, while afternoons were for Alexei cooking

mood at night, they might watch a movie together; otherwise, they’d

yet somehow living

and the other couldn’t–so

house, but Sadie

Lucas, she’d held back–but once her girl dumped him without hesitation, she was ready to gather a crew and beat up the trash

plan it, news broke that Olivia had been hospitalized after a

at her phone for half an hour in

Sadie seized the moment, investing in the

Sadie snatched

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Chapter 19

a hospital

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Natasha and Alexei were enjoying their peaceful days, Olivia

infuriating was that Thomas had clearly said he was going to confront Natasha that day, but when he came back, he seemed distracted. No one knew what he said to Mr. and Mrs. Clark, but he never mentioned punishing

family stayed holed up at home, forced to go without their phones for three

been about letting it slide, that would’ve been one thing. But what truly terrified Olivia was that the Clark family’s attitude toward Natasha

Madeline vaguely realized that Natasha’s reaction had been unprecedentedly intense. If things kept

old enough now. Whether as the Clark family’s daughter or the future Mrs. Wright, it was time for her to step into

in public. Most people had only heard about the rebellious second daughter of the Clark family but had no idea what she actually looked

didn’t even know the Clark family had another daughter besides Olivia.

Clark discuss throwing a belated birthday party for Natasha this year- using it as a chance to

anniversary of Emilia’s death, she hadn’t

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