Chapter 1 Back to the Beginning Chapter 1 Back to the Beginning $ 10 Cree Sous The pain of her organs shutting down hadn't even faded yet when a voice rang out in her ears - sharp , familiar , and full of anger . " Azalea , you've really let us down ! " As her vision slowly became focused , Azalea Yarrow saw who was talking . It was her fourth brother , Bastian Lark . Her eyes flickered with shock and disbelief . Had she really been reborn ? Reborn five years back - to the day Sydney Lark was publicly acknowledged as an heir ? That day , Azalea was framed by Sydney . Everyone believed she was just jealous of Sydney - so consumed . with fighting over Sydney's share of the inheritance that she'd actually pushed her down the stairs in an attempt to kill her . The moment it happened , her second brother , Matthias Lark , had rushed in like clockwork and saved Sydney just in time . She came away with nothing more than a scare . Bastian had shown up immediately and forced her to admit fault without even getting the full picture . She'd tried to explain , even swore on her life , but to them , everything she said was just a lie to cover her tracks . Ultimately , she was forced to bow down before the guests and apologize to Sydney . And to ' make up for the trauma Sydney suffered , their parents decided to hand over Azalea's share of the inheritance to her . In one day , she became the laughingstock of all Draywick . And that was just the beginning of the nightmare . She was naturally beautiful . Sydney once said , If only I could look as good as her , and the next thing Azalea knew , her cheek was scarred from an allergic reaction . She wasn't allowed to be prettier than Sydney - that would make Sydney insecure . So her face had to be ruined . She had an incredible talent for painting . Sydney once said she wished she could be as gifted , and just like that , all of Azalea's work was credited to Sydney . Azalea was labeled a plagiarist and expelled under the disappointed eyes of her teachers . And it didn't stop there . Because Sydney had a heart condition and couldn't exercise like a normal person , Azalea was put on a restricted diet and forced to act like a sickly , fragile companion to her . But none of that spared her from being kicked out of the house . After years of never eating enough and suffering severe malnutrition , penniless and alone , she curled up under a bridge , her body failing her , and waited in silence for death . Azalea blinked and looked around . Matthias was holding Sydney protectively , his face full of worry . Bastian was glaring at her with nothing but rage and disgust . But weren't they the ones who found her and said they wanted to make things right ? O 1/4 FROAS 14:48 Sat , 9 Aug Chapter 1 Back to the Beginning 49 % +10 Free Coins Bastian's patience had clearly run dry . Seeing her just stand there , he reached out , grabbed her wrist , and yanked her in front of Sydney . " Apologize ! " The pain in her wrist snapped her out of it . She looked up and met Bastian's eyes . Of the four brothers , he was only two years older than her . He used to be the one who understood her best , who she was closest to . Now , those eyes that once held warmth for her were filled with nothing but annoyance . " Forget it , Bastian . It's really not a big deal , " Sydney said , waving her hand with a soft smile . " After all , even though I'm a Lark by name , I'm not really family . It's normal for Azalea to be upset . " She sounded so understanding , like she wanted to just brush everything off . But her words left too much for others to fill in themselves . Matthias exploded on the spot . He pointed at Azalea's face and snapped , " If I'd known you'd turn into something this vicious , I would've told Mom and Dad not to bring you back . You should've just died out there ! " Azalea felt like she'd fallen into an ice - cold lake . Her whole body went numb . So that's what they thought . That her existence wasn't worth it if it threatened Sydney . She wished the Larks had never found her - if she had the choice . She gritted her teeth through the pain in her wrist and yanked her hand back . Her voice was hoarse as she asked , " So you all really think I pushed Sydney ? " Sydney gave her a helpless look . " Azalea … " She didn't say more , but even that spoke louder than Azalea could've said in her own defense . Bastian looked more disappointed than ever . He'd thought she'd at least be brave enough to face her mistake . But even now , she was still trying to deny it . " Azalea , when did you become like this ? " he asked . When she first returned to the Larks , she'd been so resilient and pure - like a little sun that warmed all of them . " You want me to spell it out ? " Matthias growled . " You were jealous that Sydney was getting part of the inheritance . You thought she was stealing what's yours , so you pushed her down the stairs and tried to kill her . " His eyes burned with hatred like he could burn Azalea to the ground with just a look . " Those ten years you were gone , if was Sydney who comforted us , who helped Mom and Dad hold on . After you returned , she kept stepping aside so you wouldn't feel upset . What more do you want ? That inheritance was always rightfully hers ! " Azalea gave a cold little smile , So apparently , Sydney had done all that for her ? " I was wrong , " she said . ||| O r 2/4 Chapter 1 Back to the Beginning 410 Free Coins She had been wrong for thinking she could still expect real family love from them . That hope ? She was done with it . Sydney looked troubled . " Azalea , I don't blame you ." Azalea gave her a small smile . " A mistake is a mistake . I'll fix what I did wrong . " Her mistake was coming back to the Larks . So she'd be the one to end that mistake - personally . Hearing that , a flicker of satisfaction passed through Sydney's eyes . The love of the Larks could only belong to her and her alone . On the surface , she looked heartbroken and waved her hands quickly . " Azalea , you don't have to do this . You already apologized . I don't need anything else . " Matthias , holding Sydney in his arms , softened instantly . Sydney was always like this - so forgiving , even when she'd been hurt . He looked down at her gently . " Don't feel bad . You're just getting what you deserve . " Then he turned back to Azalea , sneering coldly . " At least you still have a shred of conscience . " And with that , he walked off with Sydney , not even bothering to look back . Bastian glanced at Azalea again . His gaze dropped to her wrist , and he froze . Was that his doing ? Her pale wrist was red and swollen from where he'd grabbed her . For a second , a trace of guilt crossed his eyes - but it quickly twisted into blame . " You shouldn't have gone against Sydney . Think about how you will explain all this when Mom , Dad , and others return . " Put some medicine on that wrist ." Azalea didn't answer . It wasn't until everyone was gone and the room fell into complete silence that she finally bent over and clutched her stomach - laughing . Her laugh was wild , almost manic , like she'd completely lost it . Her eyes were brimming with tears . It was always like this . They'd push her to despair , then toss her a sliver of hope . Just enough to make her keep waiting , keep believing that if she just behaved and endured a little longer , everything would be okay . She laughed so hard it hurt and started coughing violently . Finally , she wiped her tears and turned around to head back to her room . A framed family photo sat right in the center of her dresser . Azalea stared at it , her expression ice - cold . In the picture , a couple stands behind six kids - two girls and four boys . The little girl on the far edge looks completely out of place . That was her . r 3/4 Chapter 1 Back to the Beginning +10 Free Coins She'd gotten lost when she was live and was only found again at 15. During the first year after she disappeared , her mother nearly had a mental breakdown . Her father , trying to comfort her , adopted a girl from an orphanage who looked a little like her . From then on , all the guilt the Larks felt toward Azalea was poured into Sydney . She became the brightest little princess in all of Draywick . When they found Azalea again , their parents and four brothers tried their best to make it up to her , just like they'd promised . But slowly , things started to change . " Azalea , Sydney has a heart condition . Just be a little more considerate of her . " " Azalea , just by coming back , you've already taken away half of the love meant for Sydney . Don't be so petty ." " Azalea , we're your family - but Sydney only has us . Can't you be more understanding ? " Azalea dug her fingernails into the edge of the desk until they broke , snapping her out of her thoughts . None of it mattered anymore . She reached under her bed and pulled out a white box , not a speck of dust on it . Then she stood up and walked out the door . ||| Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!