3. Disappear 

Is this one of Cassie's pranks? 

She's definitely pulling my legs. She'll never-

“What better way to make you fall into my trap easily?” Cassie shrugged. “You needed the money and the contract came in handy.”

“No! You didn't!” Anger surged through my veins.

I shot forward and grabbed her. “Cassie, why!?”

I can't help the tears that burst out, thinking back to those days full of horror and fear. 

I'd literally begged her for money. 

I knelt in front of her family's home all night, but neither Cassie nor her father were willing to offer a penny for help. 

Imagine my happiness when Raymond stepped in instead and offered the contract. 

I've always regarded him as my father's savior. Was he part of this plan? 

I lost control of my emotions and shook her. “You're a crazy maniac! I can't believe Mum is your real mother.”

Our mother was so kind and compassionate.

No way she would have given birth to this monster!

What if my Dad had died that day? All because of her stupid revenge plan, she'd endangered a poor man's life. 

“Dad loved you like his own daughter! How could you, Cassie!” I choked on my sobs.

Cassie pushed me away, kicking my leg. “I also wish you die! Can a heartbreak kill, Blair?”

Oh, she's so heartless. 

I stood from the floor and grabbed her hair, fuelled by rage. “You won't get away with this! Dad is innocent-”

“Your Dad is nothing but a filthy and ungrateful bum! He deserves to die!!!”

I raised my hand to slap her, but I paused. 

I never let anger gain control of me. I can't give her the satisfaction she wants.

But I'll definitely report this to the authorities and get justice for my father.

Controlling my emotions, I let her go. Well, Cassie did the unexpected.

She suddenly slapped herself twice and fell off the wheelchair. “Ahhhh! Please, stop! Blair, I said I'm sorry!”

Typical bitch! 

I almost laughed at her bad acting, but my face fell when Raymond barged inside.

“What's happening? Are you alright?” He instantly rushed to Cassie and picked her up from the floor. “Who did this?”

“Blair did!” Cassie sobbed bitterly, holding her cheek. “No matter how hard I try, I'll never be able to please my sister. She thinks I've set her up. She believes I caused her father's accident, Ray.”

“That's ridiculous.” Raymond glanced at me, the chill from his eyes freezing me.

When he saw the slap mark on Cassie's cheek, his demeanor completely changed. 

I've never experienced his anger, but now he looks as if he'll kill me.

“No, Ray… that's not true.” I tried to explain, and he shut me up by raising his hand. 

“Stop calling me that. Are we even close?” The coldness in his tone numbed me. 

I blinked as I stared at a completely different person from the man I knew. 

Raymond put Cassie in the wheelchair and touched her cheek. “Does it hurt?”

“It's okay.” Cassie sobbed. “I guess Blair was just too excited. I wanted to see my Little Sis after many years of being apart. I thought she missed me too.”

“Reflect on your actions, Blair…” Raymond threw me an irritated look. “Cassie only wants the best for you. She wasn't even in the country when your father had that accident.”

Well, that wasn't true.

Cassie was around when that accident happened. 

I can't imagine how much she has brainwashed him.

How can Raymond be so blind to her evilness? 

My heart broke to pieces, watching him treat her so tenderly. 

No doubt, Cassie has hooked up with him only because she knows I'm in love with him. 

She'll stop at nothing to make sure I live a miserable life.

I can't let Cassie snatch him from me. 

“Can we not get a divorce?” I blurted out. 

That isn't what I intended to say first. 

Holding my stomach, however, I'm no longer sure about telling him of my pregnancy yet.

Not in Cassie's presence. 

“Why?” Raymond turned around, his brows furrowing.

While Cassie narrowed her eyes as she gave me a deadly look. 

Ignoring her, I faced Raymond, my heart racing inside. 

Why? 

It's because… because, “I love you.”

I never planned to confess to him this way. But desperate times call for desperate measures. I can't watch him slip away. 

After my words, the room fell into a deafening silence. 

Raymond parted his lips but said nothing,

While Cassie gasped. 

She probably didn't see that coming. 

“Oh, my gosh, Sis.” She broke the silence and sobbed. “Ray and I will soon get married. We've been with each other since high school, and my only dream is to become his wife, you know that.”

“You can't bite the hand that feeds you.” Raymond’s expression hardened. “Cassie has done a lot for you. She convinced me to sign the contract with you. You're clumsy and crazy. What made you think I'll ever like you…”

Talk more of loving me.

He doesn't need to complete the sentence.

Each of his words hurt like daggers piercing my heart.

I closed my eyes, but those damned tears still rolled down.

So much for gathering the courage to confess my feelings.

His rejection hurt like hell and I can't withstand the humiliation. 

As I hurried for the door, doing my best to not break into sobs, I heard Cassie call out,

“Sis, please wait! Oh, Ray, you shouldn't have said that.”

“Was I supposed to lie? See what she did to you.”

I shut down their voices, running as fast as my legs could take me.

I didn't stop. 

I left the house and stood on the street, hugging myself from the biting cold. 

What is one supposed to do after facing such a brutal rejection? 

Can I live on after this? 

Will I be able to survive this heartbreak?

I stopped a taxi without any destination in mind. 

I just want to disappear.