CHAPTER 2: Betrayals & Disappointments

BELLATRIX...

Distress would be an understatement for my feelings at that moment. My fists clenched, despite the throbbing ache in my arm. “It's not true, Neil,” I said in defense.

“So she fell all by herself?” he asked, the disbelief evident in his voice.

“I never said I didn’t push her. I said it was an accident!”

He looked me up and down, his lips pursed. “Pfft. Yeah, an accident where you willfully hurt her. Stop with your lies, Bellatrix!”

His words struck me deeply. That he didn’t believe me hurt my soul. Then helped Florence to her feet with such care and tenderness— the complete opposite of how he treated me.

Florence's eyes caught mine, and she shot me an evil smirk only I could see.

Ugh. Why can’t he see through her? How can he treat me this way?

Worse, his next words nearly broke me. “Bellatrix, it can be forgiven if you apologize,” he said, his voice stern.

Who am I kidding? He already trusted her words over mine. Anger rose within me. “I won't,” I said firmly. “And if there are going to be any apologies, she needs to apologize for hitting me first, something you’re completely ignoring.” My voice trembled, yet I did not back away.

Neil’s face turned red with rage. “You’re more impudent than I thought. She’s the one who’s hurt!” He scoffed, looking at me with disgust. “It’s because of you, because of your unruly nature. Yet, you try to scheme, even after getting caught!”

I couldn't believe my ears. He had just dismissed my words based on hers, proving my fears weren’t unwarranted.

Just when I thought the night couldn't get any worse, my parents arrived, wearing gloomy expressions. “What are all of you doing here?” Mom’s tone dripped of displeasure she didn’t bother to hide. “We leave for one day, and you all become rogues!”

I thought she was going overboard.

Then her eyes fell on Florence, still half laid out. “Florence!” Mom said, then rushed to her with Dad on her heels. “Flores, love, what happened to you?” Mom asked.

“Bellatrix pushed her,” Neil interjected.

Mom and Dad looked at me with surprise and disbelief.

“She wouldn't even apologize,” Neil added.

Dread seeped into me as I waited with bated breath for their reply.

The pause felt like an eternity.

“Bella, you must learn to take responsibility for your mistakes. Apologize to your sister, now.” Mom demanded.

I gaped, not understanding how they could immediately take her side without even bothering to hear mine.

All those years, while I was away, living in the countryside, I had wondered about my family. I had a desperate need to be loved and believed I would find that once I found them. However, even after I returned home, I never got the love I needed. Not from them. And lately, not from Neil either.

Instead, my parents chided and scolded me for behavior they deemed reckless, behavior they detested. Worse, they always compared me to Florence, saying I should learn from her, constantly emphasizing her superiority in every way.

Was that what I deserved? Was it my fault? Weren't they responsible for protecting me and failed? It seemed that never occurred to them.

I couldn't help but smile ironically at my so-called family. “No matter what I say, you'll believe whatever you want. So what does it matter? You’ve already chosen your side.”

“Bella, it's not about choosing sides but about doing what's right,” Dad said calmly. “Even though you grew up away from us, you’re still my blood. And I can't stand my daughter behaving viciously to an innocent, especially her sister. Even if you dislike her, you must maintain your calm.”

My mother crossed her arms and looked at me in judgment. “Today of all days, I can’t believe you beat your sister up. You're turning out to be a disappointment to the family, you know that?”

Their words didn’t surprise me anymore. Still, they stung the deepest part of my heart. I had never realized a heart could be ripped apart again and again. “You’ve never believed me, do you know that? You even made me take a virginity test… among other tests.” I felt so ashamed remembering all that, especially the virginity test. To my parents, my intact dignity was more important than me being alive. “You’ve never once had faith in me,” I continued. “So just do what you always do and punish me.”

“You see her attitude,” Neil practically roared, a trembling finger pointing at me in accusation. “She’s so arrogant that she’d rather take punishment than offer an apology… to her own sister!”

“Why should I apologize?” I snapped, glaring at him. “And stop calling her my sister! Since when do I have a sister? If it wasn't for my kidnapping, she wouldn't even be here! I am their only child,” I said, pointing to my parents. “I don't accept a serpent like her!”

“Bellatrix Valdez!” Mom yelled. “How dare you!” She painfully grabbed my wounded arm, making me wince in pain.

Mom let go right away. “Wh-what happened to you? You’re bleeding!”

Did I hear a touch of worry in her voice? My heart fluttered even after such humiliation. “I’ve been trying to tell you. I was only trying to defend myself; I didn't mean to hurt her.”

“That’s not true,” Florence insisted vehemently. “She’s lying! She always lies. Trust me, Mom!”

So much for my mother’s worry for me. Instead of further concern, what I got was a hard slap to the cheek. Stunned, I dumbly stared at my mother, who withdrew her gaze in distaste.

Father shook his head as if in shame. “I can't believe you’re my daughter. I wish you had died instead of coming back to us, just so I wouldn’t have to face such a disappointment.”

I stood there, numb. Though their other hurtful words hadn’t surprised me, these did. The fear I tried to avoid for five years had been spoken.

All I ever wanted was a home and the love of a family. To win that, I always tried to be on my best behavior. But no matter what I did, I always fell short. Florence's continued manipulations made it impossible not to.

“I can’t believe I am tied an evil woman like her! My family will be pissed at her brutish disposition,” Neil muttered angrily behind my father.

His words stoked my annoyance even more. How could I have been so stupid? How could I have let myself believe that he would love me one day? I felt foolish, but couldn’t blame anyone but myself.

So I did what I had to and darted my gaze back to him. “Then don't,” I said.

“What?” Neil furrowed his brow in confusion.

“Let's cancel the engagement and put an end to this arrangement,” I stated calmly.