Chapter 2: Confrontation

Anna was initially taken aback, as some hazy memories suddenly became clear.

It was 2004, the year she was nineteen and had just started college. She and Thea were on their way home when they encountered a few thugs. She could not remember what exactly happened, and they both ended up with injuries in their resistance. Although Anna was more seriously injured, with several stitches on her forehead, her entire family rushed to accuse her. Thea only had a small bump on her forehead, yet they wanted to pin the blame on Anna for instigating the thugs to ruin her sister.

In her previous life, her nominal father had questioned her just in the same manner. She had tried to argue and apologize, only to be met with cold indifference. No one believed her words. So this time, she decided not to explain, knowing it would be futile.

Regaining her composure, Anna asked indifferently, "So, is she dead?"

William's pupils shrank, stunned for a moment before he became uncontrollably angry. He shouted at Anna, "Are you insane? How can you ask such a question? You want your sister dead?"

Her older brother Alexander was so furious that his veins bulged. He stormed up to Anna, towering over her, and glared down at her. "How can we have someone like you in our family? We should never have brought you back. You should have been left to die."

Anna simply gazed deeply at Alexander without a word.

As the other brothers stepped forward to scold Anna, they were stopped by Rosalind. Rosalind took a seat beside the hospital bed, gently took Anna's hand, and smiled tenderly at her. "Anna, I know you've suffered a lot since you were young, living away from home. After we brought you back, we've been trying to make up for the neglect, allowing you to continue your education. Now, you're in college. Many girls your age have to take out loans to attend college. You should be grateful."

As she spoke, Rosalind's eyes slowly reddened. "You shouldn't hurt your sister like this. Although it was all because of a mistake that she came to our family, she has grown up among us. I treat you all equally. Can't you drop your prejudices against her?"

Her words sounded sweeter than a song, but looking at the hypocritical face before her, and recalling the words Rosalind had said before her death, Anna felt as though she was holding a block of ice, not her mother.

It was actually great to have parents who would like to pay her college tuition. But it was merely a display of the Hayes family's wealth and status, ensuring each child attended a prestigious university, thus maintaining the family's dignity.

Thea lived in a pristine princess room, while Anna had to dwell in a cluttered cupboard, using whatever leftovers Thea discarded. Even Harry Potter was doing much better than she did, she was afraid.

"How can you claim fairness in this?" she thought. "Are you joking?"

Moreover, despite Anna's evident injuries, they showed no concern. Instead, they came specifically to accuse her.

Without seeking the truth, they simply blamed her relentlessly.

Anna sneered and chose to remain silent.

Samuel, the youngest of her four brothers, couldn't stand it anymore and yelled, "Anna, you're going too far! How could you do such a thing to Thea, and we can't even speak up? You are insane, and fine, we can take that, but now you even curse her? What are you thinking?"

Benjamin chimed in, "Anna, you should know your place. Everything you have is because of the Hayes family. What more could you possibly want? Do you have to drive Thea to her grave so you can be satisfied?"

The last brother, Andrew, opened his mouth to say something but ultimately said nothing, though his eyes clearly showed his disappointment.

Anna withdrew her hand coolly, her expression undisturbed, turning her head away, signaling she was done arguing.

To those who didn't believe her, even one more word felt like wasting her breath.

"I've heard what you all said, so how do you plan to punish me?"

Her words brought sudden silence to the room.

Rosalind seemed apparently taken aback by Anna's response, her eyes showing displeasure.

William sighed and said, "Well then, let Thea handle the speech. You can take a break and try again next year."

Anna had signed up for the speech competition so that she could have more chance to stay with Jasper. Despite the fact that she never liked any of these things, she had been studying hard, a fact everyone recognized.

Everyone expected her to make a scene, crying and causing a fuss, but...

Anna simply smiled and said, "Okay."

Her quick response left everyone momentarily stunned.

"What else does Thea want? I can give that up too."

Anna had always thought enduring would make things pass.

But she realized she was wrong. Stepping back was never a wise option. It could also invite further encroachments.