All Chapters of Bearing the Brunt: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

10 Chapters

Chapter 1

"You heard it? A student from Ashville High wants to jump!""I heard it's a girl?""I heard she didn't get good results during the mock exams, the pressure pushed her to want to jump."My sister Lena threw a popcorn into her mouth as she rolled her eyes. "She wants to jump because she didn't get good results? So weak. I wonder just how bad her parents are. But if she's dead, she's dead. Leaving her alone is a waste of resources anyway."Lena then remembered something and suddenly asked, "How's your daughter's result, Maya?"I looked at the screen of my mobile and hid the wrath in my mind. "Just so so. She performed as usual.""Don't tell me it's your daughter that's the one who wants to jump," Lena said with a smirk. "You should go take a look. Careful you have to handle her funeral."I calmly sipped the boba tea from the cup. "My daughter won't jump."Lena scoffed. "It's hard to say. Your daughter's result is so much worse than my daughter's. She might get stressed as she look

Chapter 2

My heart almost stopped as I quickly ran over to grab my daughter. But Lena was right behind me, and she immediately pushed me from behind. There was chaos on the top floor. And during the chaos, Tess pulled my daughter and fell from the top of the building together.Luckily, there was a huge tree right underneath them. The two of them hung on the tree.Only now did Tess feel the fear as she screamed, "I don't want to die! Mom! Save me!"Anne also grabbed the branches tightly to stop herself from falling. However, Tess was too scared and her body started to get cramps all over out of nervousness and couldn't grab the branches tightly at all. It was obvious she wouldn't last.Tess cried out to Anne and begged her. "Please, Anne! Save me! I don't want to die!"When Anne saw how scared she was, she tried to extend her leg to stabilize Tess and stop her from falling. In about 30 more seconds, the firefighters would be able to move the cushion right underneath them.However, no one ex

Chapter 3

Lena was the head nurse of Central Hospital. If she was there earlier, there might still be time to save her daughter. Because of that tree, Anne didn't die the moment she fell from that tree and into the ground. However, Lena pretended to fall unconscious so she didn't need to give my daughter first aid.She missed the window to receive any critical medical aid, and she died.This time, Lena would miss the chance of saving her daughter.Lena finished her boba tea nervously, glancing at the school's direction. At this time, someone who saw what happened was discussing it as they were passing by. "I heard the one who wanted to jump was someone from one of the senior advanced classes.""Yeah. I gave it a look just now. And it's a girl, too. Kids nowadays just have too much pressure.""She can't put things into perspective at this age. What a pity.""Must be because of the parents. She collapsed because she didn't get into a good university."Both Anne and Lena were in senior advan

Chapter 4

Lena still hadn't reacted to the revelation. She was still delusional. "But you're the one that's going to jump, right? …Wait, no. Why are you even here?"Anne blinked in confusion. "Didn't I tell you I'll be over soon on the phone just now?"Anne stood next to me and whispered, "Mom, Aunt Lena is so weird today."Lena suddenly stood up and the cup on the table fell. She walked over and grabbed my daughter's clothes. "Blue shirt and black pants… Who else would jump other than you?"At this time, there was a scream from somewhere. Then, some passersby were sighing."Well, it seemed like she jumped in the end. What a shame. Her parents didn't come at all after so long.""It was so bloody… The blood splattered so far away… Can she even survive?""I heard it's because her mom is too strict. She couldn't take it and jumped because she didn't do well in her exams."Anne and I exchanged a glance. We both knew who it was.Lena was like a madman and immediately grabbed the passersby an

Chapter 5

Mr. Mason could only watch from the side and quickly ran over to wake her up a little. "Calm down, Mrs. Smith. Don't touch her first. You might injure her a second time. The ambulance is on the way.""That's right… Don't touch her. She might still be saved. The ambulance is already on the way.""Don't worry. Is there anyone who knows some first-aid? Anyone that can help the girl first?"Only now did Lena recover some of her sanity. "That's… That's right. My daughter won't die. I know first-aid. I can do it."Only then did Lena look at Tess performing first-aid on Tess. Meanwhile I look at this scene nervously. I remembered how last time, the one lying there was my daughter Anne. I had begged Lena to save Anne. But she immediately pretended to fall unconscious, which caused my daughter to pass away because she missed the critical window to be saved.My hands curled into fists, my fingers dug deep into my flesh. I wish I could kill Lena right now. Anne noticed my reaction and held m

Chapter 6

I thought that Tess had no chance of survival. I only felt a little regretful over what I did when I received the news that she survived.It looked like luck wasn't on my side. She still refused to die despite everything. But that was fine. She wasn't that far away from dying since she was hurt all over. Tess's skull was fractured and she broke a few ribs. She had suffered intense internal injuries. Even her kidneys ruptured.The doctor had already issued a few critical condition notices because of this. If they couldn't get her a new kidney, everything else they do would only delay her death.Lena cried and still didn't forget to say, "My daughter's going to National University! She can't die! Wake up, Tess! You're my hope! I've given you everything I can! You can't abandon me like this!"When I saw Lena collapse and go mad, listening to all her cries and despair, my heart felt… at peace.Oh, Lena. You finally had a taste of what I went through last time. The despair that crushed

Chapter 7

Lena's knees immediately turned red as she slammed her knees on the floor."Please, Anne. I beg you. Please save Tess… You two grew up together and you're as close as sisters. We're a family! You don't want Tess to die too, right? Save her, please!"Anne's face turned pale. It was true that Anne and Tess grew up together, but they were never close. Anne always felt that Tess was very hard to deal with, not to mention that Tess had a tendency to lie and throw tantrums.That was why Anne didn't like Tess.But because Lena and I were sisters, I kept on telling Anne that it was difficult for Lena to raise Tess alone. Anne was compassionate, that was why she was willing to spend time with Tess.Anne wasn't sure how to react as she pulled Lena up. "Don't do this, Aunt Lena. Please."However, Lena refused and used this chance to keep on kneeling every time Anne pulled her up. "Anne, if you don't promise to save my daughter, I won't get up. Tess is my life! If she's dead, I won't have a

Chapter 8

"Anne is not donating her kidney and that's final. Please leave."Looking at how calm I was, Lena was stunned. She immediately yelled at the neighbors, saying, "You heard her, didn't you? Maya wants to force me to kill myself! I'm her family! How did I end up with such cold-hearted sister? Without my daughter, I don't want to live anymore!"She then immediately wanted to ram her head into the wall. She even waited for a few seconds before she started running, worried that no one would stop her.A man quickly stopped her and said to Lena, "Don't be like that! Your daughter is still waiting for you. Perhaps you can discuss with them properly, maybe they'll be willing?"Lena cried pitifully in his arms and gave me a hateful glare. "I never expected that my sister who grew up with me would watch my daughter die. I treated her and her daughter so well, too!"My neighbor looked at and seemed to be moved by her words, too. He said to me in a righteous tone, "Maya… She's not asking much.

Chapter 9

Lena's throat was burning from all her screaming. But when she saw that I didn't open the door, she knew I was determined. She had no choice but to leave. I thought this would be her final try, and that she would put more effort into thinking of a way to save Tess.I didn't expect that she would still refuse to leave my daughter alone.Lena went to the school and printed posters and banners and then stood right in front of the school and said that Anna bullied Tess using a megaphone. Tess jumped because she couldn't bear the suffering.She even went to National University and questioned them, asking if the university was an institution that would allow bullies to flourish?She said that it was because Anne was jealous of Tess being better than her, that was why she bullied Tess.She said that it was because Anne made Tess underperform, that was why Tess lost her guaranteed admission to National University, allowing Anne to get it instead.She said that it was because Anne made Te

Chapter 10

Lena gulped and forced a faint smile that was quite unpleasant as she said to me, "Maya, please. If Tess doesn't get a new kidney, she really is going to die. I know I was wrong in the past. It's my fault. I shouldn't have compared my daughter with yours."I'm too prideful. I wanted to make you look worse than me. I'm the one jealous of you because of your happy family and how good your daughter is. I know I'm at fault now, but all I want is for Tess to survive. I don't care if she's good or not. I just want her to live."I beg you. This is the last time. Please help me. Please save Tess, alright?" Lena was crying so hard that she could hardly breathe as she was on her knees in front of me. Her words were genuine. Perhaps she was being sincere too. But it was too late.I didn't give Lena another glance and told Anne to get into the car. I stepped on the gas and left Lena. I didn't tell anyone about our new residential address. I was worried that Lena might go mad and do something th

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