ter 3
Chapter 3
After leaving the hospital, my mother called.
“Hello, Grace, James and I will be back in a few days. You need to take good care of yourself.”
er familiar voice broke through, and the sharp sting of emotion flooded my senses. My tears immediately welled up.
She continued speaking, unaware.
“Your sister Winnie is back. You should get along with her. After all, she’s going to be your
future sister–in–law.”
“Mom.”
I interrupted her, my voice trembling, betraying my struggle to keep it together.
There was a brief pause on the other end, followed by my mother’s concerned voice.
“What’s wrong, Grace? Why do I feel like you’re crying?”
I had thought countless times about telling her the truth–maybe even now. The hurt and frustration pressed against my chest, but all I could manage to say was one sentence.
“Mom, I miss you.”
“My dear daughter, I miss you too. When I come back, I’ll make sure to spend time with
you.”
I took a cab back home.
Before I even stepped inside, I could hear the sound of a woman’s soft laughter coming from the living room.
“Don’t be naughty. What if someone sees us?”
I pushed the door open, and there, on the couch, were two people tangled together, clothes
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S
hattered Vows.
Chapter 3
askew.
The moment they saw me, Winnie blushed and started straightening her clothes.
Ethan, on the other hand, shot me an annoyed look.
“You’re back and don’t even bother knocking? How rude. Of course, what else can I expect from a daughter raised by such a mother?”
scoffed.
Since when did I need to knock to enter my own home?
Oh, wait–this wasn’t my home. I was just an outsider, a guest.
I still hadn’t fully processed the shock of our sudden breakup.
I nodded stiffly, tears threatening to spill as I walked towards my room upstairs.
“Grace, my dear.”
Winnie suddenly grabbed my hand.
Her nails dug into the blister on my skin, sending sharp pain through my body, making me
tremble.
She stood between me and Ethan, glaring at me with obvious malice, but her voice was
sweet as sugar.
“My parents are still overseas, so I’ll be staying here for a while. I hope you’ll look after me, dear sister!”
I said nothing, only glancing at Ethan standing behind her.
His gaze met mine, but there was no trace of love left in his eyes. All that remained was an overwhelming coldness, an aversion that cut deep.
He spoke dismissively.
“Winnie, why are you even talking to her? You’re the mistress of this house now.”
Chapter 3
I remembered the old Ethan, how he would proudly declare in front of everyone that I was
his sister, the Smith family’s precious daughter.
“Anyone who bullies her is bullying me. Anyone who hurts her is going up against the entire Smith family!”
But now, I was just an outsider.
The pain in my chest was unbearable, and for a moment, I could barely breathe.
My mind was spinning, unable to grasp the truth behind any of this, and all I wanted to do
was escape.
I yanked my hand away from Winnie and limped into my room.
Behind me, Ethan ‘s angry voice echoed, but I couldn’t hear it. All I felt was a ringing in my
ears.
When I slammed the door shut, the last bit of my facade crumbled, and I collapsed, sobbing uncontrollably.
I wanted to scream at Ethan, to ask him what those six years between us had meant.
But the cold, hateful look on his face paralyzed me with fear.
I didn’t dare approach him. I just wanted to run.
It felt like I had been thrown into quicksand–each struggle only made me sink deeper.
