Chapter 6 My father's best friend was the first to condemn him. "You found her eight years ago and didn't bring her home? Your parents' greatest regret was never finding her! Ethan, how could you be so foolish!" "She's your flesh and blood! You left her outside for eight years? What were you thinking? Are you trying to make sure your parents never rest in peace?" Ethan stood like a marionette with its strings cut, mechanically staring at his trembling hands. What had he done? He'd abandoned his own sister for eight years, using a ridiculous "bad luck" excuse to keep her from even stepping into Crawford Manor. He'd given me no more than one day of company each month. While showering all his affection on an unrelated stranger. He'd forgotten-Amelia was only ever a stand-in for me. A replacement to comfort our father, whose hair had turned gray almost overnight from grief.. A replacement for our mother, who'd succumbed to illness heartbroken over her lost daughter. A replacement to ease his own guilt for the unforgivable sin he'd committed. When he was five, he'd skipped school to go play. Afraid of being punished, he used me as an excuse to bring me along. But he got carried away. In that crowded amusement park, he let go of my hand. He didn't hear my terrified cries. Didn't see the Child trafficker's hand cover my mouth and stuff me into a car. After that, Father is aged decades overnight. He died under the wheels of a truck while chasing a lead about Mother cried until she fainted. Within two years, she was gone too, consumed by illness. He remembered it all now. He was the reason our family was destroyed-the reason I never saw our parents again. So he ran from it. Projected his guilt onto me. Chapter 6 75.00% And poured all his love and care onto a girl with no blood relation-a girl who luxuriated in the privilege that should have been mine. Only now did he realize-he'd lost me, his last remaining family. The pain he'd suppressed for so long, always lurking in the shadows, burst open like Pandora's box. Regret and agony surged out, wrapping around him like vicious vines, choking him until he could barely breathe. He felt his heart being ripped right out of his chest. Amelia watched as everyone suddenly cared about me. She gritted her teeth, eyes flashing with jealousy and venom. "Ethan, say something! This is my birthday! You promised me anything I wanted today! I don't want Eleanor coming! She's an uncouth country girl! Who knows how many men she's been with out there? She doesn't deserve to be a Crawford! Only I am the true-" Slap. The sudden blow cut her off and silenced the room. "You... you hit me!" Amelia stared in shock, tears instantly falling. "You've never hit me before! Now you're hitting me for that bitch Eleano-" Her words died in her throat as she met Ethan's icy, blade-sharp glare. f you dare insult my sister again, get out of the Crawford family this instant." "Ify Amelia had never seen him like this. Trembling with fear, she fell silent. Nearby, Jacob sighed. "I told you not to play favorites, but you wouldn't listen..." "Actually, that day... I think I saw Eleanor. I wasn't sure then, but now... she must have heard everything we said." "She nearly died for you, Ethan. And you changed the banquet she waited eight years for into Amelia's birthday party. She left because you broke her heart completely." Ethan's eyes were completely bloodshot. He could no longer stand. Ignoring Amelia's loud cries behind him, he turned and ran out like a madman. Chapter 6 75.00% Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!