Chapter 4
I hobbled to the curb, dragging my injured leg, and flagged down a cab.
On my phone, there was a video of my parents crying and begging Sophie to come home. Andrew was off to the side, his arms around their shoulders.
Charlie stood in front, looking listless, his cheeks flushed as if he had a fever.
The next second, my dad slapped Charlie hard across the face.
"This is all your fault! You made Sophie cry!" my dad yelled.
"Go on, apologize to your Aunt Sophie right now! Tell her you know you were wrong!" my mom snapped.
"Sophie, please come home. If you'll just forgive us, we'll do anything. You're the only daughter we have" my mom sobbed.
Hearing them say Sophie was their only daughter didn't even make me feel anything anymore.
But when I saw Charlie in the video, crying so softly and weakly, like a little kitten, it felt like a huge rock was crushing my chest—I could barely breathe.
How could they treat Charlie like that?
Charlie was so little—just a child.
I didn't even have time to think; all I wanted was to get Charlie out of there.
My phone buzzed twice.
Sophie sent a flurry of texts, [So what if you married Andrew?]
[All I have to do is throw a fit, and everyone's attention is on me.]
Sophie: [You've been acting way too bold lately, sweet-talking Grandpa about having another kid. Consider this your warning—step out of line again and you can forget about ever seeing Charlie.]
I stared at Sophie's smug text, trying to expalin as I typed, [We have signed the divorce agreement]
[Just hand Charlie over to me. I'll take him and leave right away—we'll be out of your lives for good.]
Sophie texted back, [Why should I believe you?]
My eyes flickered with hesitation, typing, [Just pretend you're pregnant—say it's been two months. That night Andrew got drunk, he kept calling your name. I made sure nothing happened.]
I shot back a text. [He was so wasted, he won't remember any of it.]
[Andrew's totally obsessed with you, and now that you're supposedly pregnant with his kid, he won't even remember me and Charlie exist.]
[How you actually manage to pull off having the baby—that's your problem.]
Sophie might be spoiled and bossy, but she had two parents who doted on her.
Even if she was totally clueless about what to do,
they'd always make sure her wishes came true.
I never doubted how much they loved her.
Sophie's reply popped up, her tone urgent and agitated.
[He promised me Fine, just don't back out. Once you leave, make sure you never show your face again!]
Finally, the weight on my chest lifted.
At the hospital, the nurse bandaged up my wound and told me not to get it wet.
Sophie was a top beauty influencer.
The news of her running away quickly trended all over social media.
Everyone was buzzing about it, saying she must have suffered a lot and would probably lay low for a long time.
[Sophie must've reached her breaking point. She wouldn't have run away unless she'd been through hell.]
[Damn, even a girl this pretty can't escape family drama. God, what are you doing up there?]
[Take care of yourself, Sophie. You deserve so much better.]
[I heard Sophie has a younger sister, and the family dotes on her. Even the guy Sophie liked was forced to marry her sister. That's just heartbreaking—my heart goes out to you, Sophie.]
[Of course, the one who gets all the love is always the favorite. Now the sister, Grace, is quietly disappearing again. Anyone know how to contact her?]
I put my phone away.