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

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

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

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

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