All Chapters of The One to Blame: Chapter 1 - Chapter 9

9 Chapters

Chapter 1

My clothes had been ripped away, my hair yanked mercilessly as I was pressed against the coarse cement ground. Several thugs worked together to restrain me—one held down my legs while another pinned my arms. They grinned wickedly. "Her body's incredible," one of them jeered. "So smooth and soft," another added. I struggled with all my might, my face streaked with tears, but I was no match for their combined strength. "Get off me, you beasts!" I screamed, but they didn't listen. My pleas only seemed to embolden them. I felt myself filthy, as if I were a rat dragged through the gutter. I wanted to die right then and there, anything to escape this humiliation. I had come here full of joy, expecting to see fireworks. Why were these monsters here instead? I cried so hard that my chest ached. Then I saw them—a familiar pair of casual sneakers stepping toward me. My heart leaped with hope. "Luke! Help me, please! Save me!" But his expression was calm, in

Chapter 2

The One to Blame/Serena Lowell

Two years ago, my father was sentenced to fifteen years in prison for rape. The victim was a high school girl named Sofia. As a result of the assault, she developed severe depression and now had to live with a colostomy bag for the rest of her life. I would never forget the day my father was sentenced. He cried and begged me, "Melanie, it wasn't me. You have to believe me." I didn't want to believe it either. The man who had always treated me like his most precious treasure—a rapist? But the evidence was irrefutable. The cruel truth stared me in the face, leaving no room for denial. Sofia's medical examination showed fresh tears in her private parts. At my father's workplace, they discovered tools used to torture women, all bearing Sofia's DNA. That was how my father was sent to prison, and I inherited the shameful label of the "rapist's daughter". Sofia was sent overseas for treatment. That same year, I started college. Many people took the opportunity to bully me

Chapter 3

The One to Blame/Serena Lowell

After that nightmare, I couldn't bring myself to go home. Instead, I checked into a hotel.The moment I closed the door, I finally let myself break down, crying uncontrollably.I looked in the mirror at my body, which was covered in bruises and marks. The scent of someone else lingered on me, making my stomach churn with disgust.I felt filthy—so dirty it made me want to vomit. The next second, I was on my knees, retching so hard it felt like I was throwing up bile.I turned on the hot water and scrubbed my skin with a towel until it burned, desperate to erase the traces of what had happened.For a fleeting moment, I thought I deserved to die.But what would happen to my mother if I were gone?After what my father did, assaulting Sofia, my mother had retreated into a shell of silence for what felt like an eternity.She often woke up from nightmares, murmuring in her sleep, "How could this happen? How?" I knew deep down she couldn't truly believe my father had done such a thing.

Chapter 4

The One to Blame/Serena Lowell

How could Luke be so heartless? How could he destroy me so completely and ruin the only happiness I had left?I couldn't stop thinking—if I had never fallen for him, if my father had never assaulted Sofia, would any of this have happened? Would my family still be whole?But life is cruel, and the heavens love their jokes.That was when my phone rang—it was Luke.I didn't want to answer, so I declined the call, but he kept calling, relentless.A text came through.[Look at the rooftop across the street.]I instinctively looked up, and there he was. Our eyes met.Dressed in black, he stood there smirking, even giving me a small wave.Furious, I sent him a message, demanding to know what he wanted.He responded almost instantly, sending me another video.In it, I was lying on the ground on a rooftop, pleading with those thugs to kiss me.I froze before looking up and staring at him in disbelief. He stood not far away, and I could clearly see the smug on his face.The sound in

Chapter 5

The One to Blame/Serena Lowell

My mother was rushed to the hospital and underwent emergency treatment for what felt like an eternity.Yet, I wished time could slow down, crawl if it had to—just so I wouldn't have to hear the devastating news from the doctor.But that moment eventually arrived.When the doctor came out, he shook his head. "A piece of debris lodged itself in her brain. There's nothing we could do."I felt my vision blur; I couldn't even process what he was saying.I didn't even remember how I ended up by my mother's side. I only remembered seeing her—pale as a sheet, lying there so still.My mother, who had always been terrified of pain, had jumped from the tenth floor.If only I hadn't argued with her. If only I had stayed with her. Maybe then, she wouldn't have ended her life.I cried until my eyes swelled shut in the morgue, but no amount of tears could bring her back. She would never cook or wash my clothes for me again. She would never hold me close at night and say, "Melanie, it's just t

Chapter 6

The One to Blame/Serena Lowell

When I woke up, I was lying in Luke's bed.I scrambled to get up, but he shoved me back down, his face filled with irritation."So what your mom's dead? Now you're going on a hunger strike?" he snapped. "You think starving yourself is going to work? Forget it. I won't let you die that easily."He grabbed a bowl of stew and forced it toward me.So what my mother was dead? His words were so casual, so detached.My fists clenched so tightly my nails dug into my palms. It took every ounce of restraint not to punch him.Instead, I slapped the bowl away, my voice trembling with suppressed rage."Get out!"I expected him to lash out, to hit me or hurt me. But he didn't.Instead, he leaned in close, his voice a low warning. "Don't test my limits, Melanie."I laughed bitterly. His limits? Was he talking about his sister?I shut my eyes, refusing to look at him. Even a second longer felt revolting. I didn't want to waste my breath on him either."Fine. Starve for all I care," he spat

Chapter 7

The One to Blame/Serena Lowell

I had a dream where my mother came to pick me up. This time, she was smiling. She wasn't angry at me. She crouched and opened her arms wide, saying, "Melanie, come here, slowly now. Don't fall." I saw my tiny self rushing into her embrace. It was a memory of me as a child, back when I was happy with her. She said she would take me away, promising I'd never suffer again. But suddenly, an overwhelming force wrenched us apart. "Melanie, don't go." "Mom!" I jolted awake. The surroundings were unfamiliar—a wooden cabin with a vase of jasmine flowers on the table. The faint floral scent was soothing. Outside, the evening sky was ablaze with the fiery hues of the setting sun. It was breathtakingly beautiful. Was this heaven? Confused, I got out of bed and stepped outside the little cabin. Near the beach, a few children were laughing and playing around a tall man. Who was he? As if sensing my presence, he turned around and saw me. He said something to

Chapter 8

The One to Blame/Serena Lowell

In the days that followed, Raymond took me to the beach every morning to collect seafood. He cooked for me and even made homemade desserts. For the first time in my life, I felt a happiness I'd never experienced before. During this time, I also met his grandmother, a petite and frail elderly woman. She, like Raymond, had a warm smile that seemed to melt into your heart. One evening during dinner, his grandmother reached out her wrinkled hand to hold mine, her eyes twinkling with a gentle kindness. "Melanie," she said, her voice soft but filled with emotion, "I've lived my whole life by the sea, and when the time comes, my life will end here too. But I'm so happy to see that Raymond has met such a wonderful girl like you. Can you promise me you'll stay by his side for the rest of your lives?" Her words made my cheeks flush instantly. It was clear she had misunderstood my relationship with Raymond. I quickly glanced at him for help, but he only gave me a sly wink and typed

Chapter 9

The One to Blame/Serena Lowell

Hearing those words, my head began to buzz, and for a moment, everything went blank. Did that mean my father had been wrongfully accused for two years? My mother and I had misunderstood him for all that time. Tears started to spill uncontrollably, and Raymond pulled me into his arms again. His voice was firm. "Melanie, I'll help your dad get his case overturned." True to his word, Raymond didn't hesitate. He took the surveillance footage to the best lawyer he could find, and within a short time, my father was exonerated. He was released with a full apology and even received compensation. The thugs involved in Sofia's case were arrested and sentenced to life imprisonment. Sofia, for her role in falsely accusing my father, was given a three-year sentence. On the day of her sentencing, I saw both Sofia and Luke. Sofia glared at me, eyes filled with fury. She clearly hadn't expected the truth to come to light. Luke, on the other hand, groveled before me, his ey

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