Chapter 15
“Remember, she always thought we liked Anna more. But you, you were so nice before. Then, at her worst, you said those things. She probably hates you more than us now.
“I know,” Lionel replied. He’d seen it himself. Stella’s eyes, first shocked, and then dull after he spoke. His heart sank, and he wasn’t sure if he’d misjudged her.
Max complained, “Since you’ve picked Anna, don’t mess with Stella. I’ll tell you straight. She’s different now. Last night, I tried to be nice, but she ignored me completely. Don’t I care about her pain? Yet she? Shows no thanks at all.”
Max stopped. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you. I bet she’ll come after you this time-to steal you away, hurt Anna, and cause big trouble. Watch out.”
Each acupuncture session lasted thirty minutes. For Stella, it felt like torture. Fiona and Anna cried beside her, making her feel half-dead. But with Eleanor there, Stella couldn’t say a thing.
After thirty minutes, the treatment was done. Fiona and Eleanor went to see Martin out, leaving Anna in the room. Stella glanced at Anna, and then slowly put her clothes back on.
Anna cried even harder, “Stella, it’s all my fault. I made you suffer so much. I’m terrible. I really am.” With that, Stella started slapping her face hard.
Stella didn’t say a word.
Anna had slapped herself a few times and felt terrible. She peeked at Stella, and then stopped. But she cried even harder, “You know what? We just read your statement at the police station. It hurt me so much.
“I keep blaming myself. Why am I so weak, making you go through all this? If only they had taken me instead, wouldn’t all this be happening to me?”
Stella said flatly, “Stop acting. If they had taken you, do you think things would be better for me at home?”
Anna saw Stella finally talking to her and quickly stepped closer. “Stella, I told them not to pick favorites. When we were in the womb, we were both tiny. No one knew what would happen. I never blamed you, but they just won’t listen.
“Now that you’re back, I told them they need to treat you right. But you’re just so stubborn. Stella, can you try to change? Mom, Dad, and Max really do love you, you…”
Stella shot a cold look toward Anna. Anna was scared and looked away.
Stella sneered, “Anna, this is what you wanted me to see, right? Mom, Dad, and Max all love you. Even Lionel, who loved me the most, likes you now. You’re happy now, huh?”
Before Anna could speak, Stella cut in, “Do you really think I don’t know why those kidnappers showed up that day?”
Anna’s head jerked up; she stared at Stella in shock.
Stella said coldly, “You hired that kidnapper, didn’t you?”
Anna shook her head hard. “No, Stella, it’s not true. I didn’t do anything.”
Stella didn’t expect Anna to be such a good liar. “I knew you’d say that, but I’ve done nothing wrong to you. They told me to let you win, so I did. But why hurt me?
1/2
Chapter 15
“Is it because Lionel doesn’t like you? You want him to like you, so you made up stories in front of him? Or is it because I got into a college you couldn’t? You had to push me out of the family to get what you want?”
“That’s not true!” Anna tried to step forward. “Stella, I didn’t do it. I know you’re upset, and-”
“Enough!” Stella couldn’t stand Anna’s lies anymore. “Anna, you’re my sister. Why would you hurt me?”
Anna dropped to her knees, begging. “Stella, please believe me. I didn’t do anything. The kidnapping was just a coincidence. I feel awful about it. I hope-”
“Save it!” Just hearing Anna’s voice made Stella sick.
Anna cried, “Stella, trust me, please?”
Just then, Fiona walked in, shocked. She rushed over to help Anna up. She barked at Stella, “Stella, what are you doing? We were only gone a short time, and you made Anna kneel? What did she do to deserve this?”
Fiona’s voice was so loud it drew others in.
When Eleanor arrived, she heard Anna weeping. “Mom, I won’t get up. Stella is like this today because of me. It’s all my fault.”
Fiona said loudly, “Your fault? No! She ran away. If she hadn’t, would any of this have happened?” Since Stella came home, Fiona felt sorry for her and rarely blamed Stella, but Stella’s treatment of Anna today was too harsh.
Fiona accused, “Stella, what do you want? Anna is your sister. She was poisoned yesterday because of you, and she’s still weak. Yet you make her kneel? How could you get so cruel?”
