Chapter 3

Sophia would sometimes cut herself with a small knife.

Victoria Carter had no idea what was going on. All she could do was panic and worry.

Eventually, she took a long leave from work and brought Sophia to see a psychologist.

But when it became clear she couldn't keep hiding the truth, Sophia turned her target toward me.

The moment we walked into the consultation room, Sophia burst into tears.

"Mom, please... don't make me say it. Emily will kill me," she sobbed.

Clueless and alarmed, Mom scooped her into her arms. "Sophia, why would you say that? Is Emily bullying you at school?"

Sophia buried her face into Mom's shoulder and whimpered, "Please promise me you won't tell Emily when we get home."

Mom, unaware that Sophia only said this to keep me from exposing her lie, assumed it was a sign of her daughter's maturity.

To get Sophia to talk, Mom agreed. "Okay, I promise. Just tell me what happened, sweetheart."

Sophia wiped her tears with the back of her hand, her voice trembling with false innocence. "Emily always bullies me with her friends just because she gets good grades. She calls me stupid… Says one day, you'll throw me away…"

Her voice cracked as she broke into sobs again.

Victoria's face twisted in fury. "I knew it! That little bastard had something to do with this! Don't cry, Sophia, I love you most. If anyone's getting thrown away, it's her!"

The psychologist later recommended that, for Sophia's well-being, the two girls should be separated for a while.

As soon as we got home, Mom didn't say a word. She just started packing my things, saying she was sending me to stay with my grandma, Maggie, in the countryside.

I cried and begged her not to send me away.

But she wouldn't listen. She just snapped, "Your father and I are too busy with work to look after both of you. Try to be more understanding and stop causing trouble!"

The next morning, she drove me straight to my grandma's trailer in Homestead.

Grandma Maggie was overjoyed to see me. She held my hand tightly and had even bought beef—something she only ever splurged on during the holidays—just to make sure I'd feel at home.

But I couldn't stop crying. I watched the car disappear down the road, my sobs choking me.

Meanwhile, my dad, Richard Carter, had rushed to the hospital, panting as he burst through the emergency entrance.

"Sophia! Where are you? Dad's here!" he shouted.

Hearing his voice, Victoria quickly had a nurse escort him to Sophia's room.

Still catching his breath, Dad saw Sophia lying weakly in the hospital bed. His hands curled into fists.

"Sophia, where are you hurt? Is it serious? Does it hurt?"

Sophia smiled sweetly at him. "I'm okay, Dad. Don't worry."

Only after seeing that she was alright did Dad remember to get angry at me. "Where's your sister? Didn't I tell her to protect you?! Where the hell did she go?!"

Sophia pouted, looking up at him with wide eyes. "I don't know… When the danger started, she pushed me in front of her and ran away."

Dad's eyes widened in disbelief. "What? She used you as a human shield?! I knew that girl was born cold-blooded and selfish! Even a dog knows to protect its owner!"

To my parents, I wasn't even a person—just a dog meant to protect Sophia. And if I couldn't even do that, they probably would've discarded me long ago.

Sophia clung to Dad's arm playfully. "Don't be mad, Dad. I'm fine now. Maybe Emily didn't mean it."

But Dad was too furious to listen. "If we let her off this time, she'll just get worse! No, I've got to teach her a lesson today!"

He stormed toward the hallway, yelling, "Emily Carter! Get out here right now! Look what you've done to your sister!"

"I'm giving you until the count of three. If you come out on your own, maybe I'll go easy on you. But if I have to find you myself, it won't be pretty!"

Victoria stepped in and grabbed his arm. "Enough. This is a hospital. I already locked Emily outside the building. She can scream all she wants—she's not getting back in."

Dad blinked in confusion.

Mom rolled her eyes and grumbled, "You didn't see her earlier—banging on the doors and screaming that she was hurt, trying to get my attention. All just to compete with Sophia for affection."

"She always picks the worst moments to act out. Just seeing her face pisses me off."

Dad nodded. "Yeah, you're right. Leave her out there. Let her think about what she's done. At least she won't disturb Sophia while she recovers."

Then he turned to Sophia and softened his voice. "Once you're discharged, I will help you teach that ungrateful girl a lesson."

Afraid her lies might unravel, Sophia pouted. "Dad, don't be mad at her. Maybe I just remembered it wrong because I was scared. Let's just let it go this time, okay?"

Dad frowned slightly. "Alright, alright. Whatever you say, sweetheart. You're always the one defending her, and what do you get in return? She still tries to hurt you."

Sophia smiled with fake innocence. "Well, she is my sister, after all. It's only right that I'm good to her."