Chapter 3

"The hospital kept demanding payment, but I couldn't reach anyone."

"What?" Mitchell frowned, but before he could say more, Maggie walked over.

"Nora, come inside. Are you feeling better? Do you need money for the payment? Let me transfer it to you."

"I'll handle it," Mitchell said, sending me a transfer of 15 thousand dollars.

"Is that enough?"

-

I nodded, ready to head out and redeem my necklace.

"Where are you going now?"

"My necklace. I pawned it at the hospital."

Before I could leave, Maggie stopped me.

"It looks like it's going to rain. You just got out of the hospital, so you shouldn't run around. Let the driver handle it."

I didn't want to agree, but Mitchell's stare made it clear—if I refused Maggie's suggestion, he'd be furious.

The driver was gone for a long time but came back empty-handed. The nurse said the necklace was missing.

I immediately rushed over to the hospital.

"How could it be gone? How could it just disappear? It's only been two hours! I told you I'd bring the money to get it back!"

"Well, there are so many people coming and going in the hospital. We don't know what happened. At least you don't have to pay for the treatment."

I grabbed the nurse, pleading and demanding an explanation.

"Enough! Stop embarrassing yourself! Mom gave you that necklace, and you handed it over so carelessly! Now it's gone—who's to blame for that?"

Mitchell pulled me away, apologized to the nurse, and dragged me out of the hospital.

"I'll ask someone to look for it. Stop causing a scene. Why are you yelling in public? Do you have no shame?"

His harsh words left me speechless.

-

I locked myself in my room that night, unable to sleep.

For some reason, the loss of that necklace left me terrified and restless.

It was one of the few things in my life that truly belonged to me, and yet, I couldn't keep it safe.

That night, I dreamt of my mother. She stroked my face, her smile so gentle, her eyes full of pain.

"My darling, why have you become so thin? Has Mitchell not been taking care of you?"

I held back my tears and hugged her, crying uncontrollably.

"Who's been bullying you? Should I teach them a lesson? Was it Mitchell?"

"No, Mom. Mitchell treats me well." I couldn't stop the tears. "Mom, I miss you so much. I'm so tired. I lost the necklace you gave me. I'm so useless."

The next day, I stayed in my room all day, not wanting to see anyone.

Mitchell didn't come to check on me, but Maggie did.

When I saw her, I tried to close the door, but she raised her chin, revealing the necklace I'd lost.

"How did you get that?"

While I was stunned, she pushed the door open and walked in.

-

"Give me back my necklace!"

"Why should I? Mitchell already gave it to me. He said you don't deserve to wear it, that only I can."

Maggie avoided my hand, smirking triumphantly.

"That necklace was my mother's! Give it back to me!"

I didn't care about anything else, but I couldn't let this go.

When I lunged for it, she stepped back.

As I stumbled and fell to the floor, she laughed mockingly.

"Look at you. Where's that campus belle aura you used to have? You're nothing but a joke now, looking like a beggar."

When I tried to get up, she kicked me in the back, watching me struggle. Then she stomped on my hand.

"Tell me, what's the point of living like this? Nora, Mitchell doesn't want you anymore. You're the most useless person in this house!"

She walked to the window, holding the necklace, and slowly loosened her grip.

"You want it? Too bad—I'm not giving it to you."

"No!" I grabbed her leg, shoving her aside, and lunged at her like a madwoman.

"Maggie! You've already taken Mitchell! You've taken this house! Why won't you just leave me alone?"

I didn't know how it happened, but when I came to, Maggie was clutching her stomach, collapsing in pain.

"Maggie!"

Mitchell stood at the door, his face a mix of shock and fury, shouting her name.

"My stomach hurts," Maggie cried, looking at me tearfully. "Nora, why did you push me?"

Mitchell's slap landed with full force, sending me to the ground, my head buzzing.

"Nora! You're despicable! After all this time, you haven't learned a thing! I don't want to see you ever again!"

He scooped Maggie into his arms and left without looking back.

As they left, Maggie shot me a vengeful look. Her lips moved as she said silently, "You're done for."

-

That look, that moment, overlapped with memories of our high school graduation.

An overwhelming fear gripped me.

Was I going to be sent back to that hellish place? Was Mitchell going to abandon me again?

No! I couldn't go back!

Terrified, I burst into tears and ran after Mitchell, grabbing his arm.

"I didn't push her! Mitchell, please believe me!"

"Get off me! Do you even realize she's pregnant? You're trying to kill her! I should've left you in that school forever! How could I have such a cruel sister? Why don't you just die?"

He flung my hand away and left, just like before, not once looking back.

My face stung, but all I could hear was his voice echoing in my mind.

"Why don't you just die?"

That sentence merged with the nightmares of my days in school, where every moment felt worse than death.

"Mitchell, you might not know this, but I've already thought about dying so many times…"

Rolling up my sleeves, I stared at the scars on my arms, a testament to all the times I couldn't go on.

I walked to the window, looking down at where the necklace had fallen, and dialed Mitchell's number.

"Mitchell, if I die, will you believe me then? I didn't push her. She took Mom's necklace."

"Then go ahead and die!"

His voice on the other end was impatient and harsh.

Sitting on the windowsill, I dropped the phone and let out a resigned laugh. Then, with my eyes closed, I let myself fall backward.