Chapter 3
On Saturday, I went to the hospital for a check-up.
When I got back and was about to go inside, I heard Mom's voice, bright and excited. "Andrew, Lily, this date after the SATs would be perfect for your engagement party. What do you think?"
Lily's voice was soft and sugary-sweet as it floated out. "Andrew, what do you think?"
"Whatever you want," Andrew replied.
When I heard Andrew's indulgent tone, my grip on the doorknob tightened.
Suddenly, I remembered that before I left, Samuel had asked when I'd be back.
It turned out that he didn't care about me at all.
He was worried I'd mess up their engagement party planning.
I let go of the doorknob.
With my umbrella up, I stepped out into the pouring rain and hid in a quiet corner of the yard.
I waited until Andrew was gone before I finally went back inside.
The next day, I remembered I'd left my umbrella in the yard, so I went to get it.
Halfway there, I ran into Lily, who was admiring the flowers.
I was about to take a detour to avoid her.
But then I saw a flowerpot falling straight toward her head.
"Watch out." I rushed over and shoved her out of the way.
The crash of the flowerpot shattering echoed in my ears, and for a moment, everything was ringing. I didn't come back to myself until a while later.
As I was about to help Lily up, I saw two figures rushing over.
Both of them yelled, "Lily."
Samuel stormed over, glaring at me with anger, and demanded, "Did you push Lily?"
I wanted to say I didn't.
But Lily cut me off. "Samuel, don't blame Charlotte.
"Maybe she overheard us talking about the engagement party yesterday and felt hurt. After all, the engagement between Andrew and me was originally meant for her.
"But if this helps her vent her feelings, I don't mind."
She sniffled quietly, her eyes red and with tears clinging to her lashes, looking like a pitiful little bunny who'd been wronged.
Andrew was right there, gently wiping her tears, his expression full of sympathy.
When his glance swept over me, it was icy, sending a chill straight to my heart.
It was like a sharp knife stabbing right into my chest.
Samuel shoved me hard.
I staggered, barely managing to stay on my feet.
His shout was so loud it felt like it could split my head open. "Charlotte, what makes you think you have any right to feel hurt?
"This engagement was always supposed to be Lily and Andrew's. If you hadn't barged back into our lives, it never would've been yours.
"You almost stole Lily's engagement, and now you dare to hurt her? How could you be so cruel."
I stood there, frozen, my whole body stiff as a board.
It felt like I was right back in that summer.
Some classmates kept calling me an orphan, a kid with no parents.
I couldn't take it anymore, so I shoved him.
He ran off bawling to the teacher.
Later, in the office, that kid was snuggled in his mom's arms, with the teacher standing right beside them.
His mom sneered that I was raised without any manners.
The teacher scolded me for starting the fight.
They kept talking, but I couldn't hear a thing.
All I could hear was that piercing ringing in my ears.
I was shaking, feeling totally helpless.
Like now, Samuel and Andrew were both standing by Lily's side.
Samuel's mouth kept moving, like he was still yelling at me.
But all I could hear was that buzzing in my ears. I couldn't make out a single word he was saying.
I stared at his contorted face, my whole body trembling.
All these years later, there was still no one standing behind me.
It was like back then. I could only lower my head, my voice shaking as I apologized.