Chapter 9%
In utter rage and despair, Caitlin screamed at me.”
“Sienna! I knew it. You knew everything from the start! That’s why you were so smug when you agreed to the marriage!” Her voice cracked, all twisted up in that blind, yelling.
“You vile, poisonous snake! The West family raised a thankless little wolf!”
My adoptive parents burst into tears right on cue, both of them sobbing so hard they could barely get their words out.
“Sienna! We raised you! We gave you the best of everything! How could you treat us like this? How could you betray us?”
I let out a shrill, bitter laugh, my eyes stinging with tears.}
“You treated me well? You gave me the best of everything?“}
I looked straight at them, square in the eye, and asked, “Do you really feel no guilt when you say that? Didn’t Caitlin admit it herself? You only adopted me because she got bored and wanted a new toy to mess around with.“>
I kept going. “And when she bullied me at school and got the other kids to gang up on me, you just acted like it wasn’t happening. At home, she had everything–designer clothes, fancy meals, everyone acting like she could do no wrong. I wasn’t even treated as well as the family dog!“}
I paused to catch my breath, but my voice didn’t shake.
“And still, I never said anything. I kept my head down. I was even grateful. You gave me a shot at going to school, and I thought that was enough. But even then, even after I busted my ass studying and earned those scores, you tried to take that from me, too.”
gave up everything when you asked. I handed over my dream without a fight. But that still wasn’t enough for you. You wanted to bleed me dry!“?
As I spoke, I slowly rolled up my sleeves.
My arms and legs were covered in faint, yellowing bruises. Not fresh, but clear enough. Reminders of everything I’d been forced to endure in silence.
“These?” I held my arms out so everyone could see. “This is what your so–called ‘love‘ looked like. Any time I stood up to Caitlin, even a little, you’d beat me. You’d scream at me. Lock me up. Starve me.“}
The room went dead silent.@
Dean just stood frozen as if the floor had been pulled out from under him. His face was pale, and his lips parted.
The Caitlin he had idolized for years was crumbling in front of him like old plaster.}
“Sienna…” His voice was barely there. “Is that true?“>
I didn’t answer. I didn’t have to.
Right then, Caitlin’s panic was rising fast, and she scrambled to spin things back in her favor.
“Don’t listen to her, Dean! She’s lying! She’s the biggest manipulator you’ll ever meet!“>
I said calmly, “If no one believes me, then just check the home surveillance. It’s all there.“>
The police didn’t waste any time. They moved quickly, pulled up the footage, and played it right there in the room.
It was all on display.
Caitlin’s dramatic fall into the pond, the angle, the timing. It was clear as day that I didn’t push her. It was just her staging the whole thing.
Gasps echoed through the crowd.
“Oh my god! She really did fall in by herself.“}
“All this time, we blamed Sienna, and she couldn’t even speak up for herself.“>
“She always seemed so sweet. Who would’ve thought she was hiding something this dark?“>
“Yeah! She framed her sister and played the victim? That’s disgusting!”
When the footage ended, Dean’s expression showed his disappointment and contempt.”
“Caitlin, I never thought you were capable of something this ugly.”
In our past life, Dean had been her biggest believer.
Now that they were both reborn, it must be soul–crushing for her to watch the most devoted pawn in her game abandon her in full clarity.
Caitlin had no one left to fight her battles now?
And worse, her crimes only got heavier.}
In this life, she would lose everything.
Realizing this, Caitlin snapped.
“No! No, this isn’t happening! I want another chance!“>
She screamed like she was possessed and lunged at the table.
Before anyone could react, she grabbed a fruit knife and came charging at me, eyes wild and unhinged.”
“Sienna! I want to do it all over again! And if I do, I’ll make you suffer in ways you’ve never imagined!“}
But before she could reach me, the knife clattered to the floor.
Lance had stepped in, placing himself between us. He caught the blade with his bare hand and, in one swift twist, forced Caitlin’s wrist
back.B
She shrieked in pain, her hand going limp.
“In this life,” Lance said, his voice icy and low, “you will never lay a finger on her.“”
“No! This is unfair!” Caitlin shouted. “I’m gonna kill you, Sienna! You’re going to pay for everything! This is not over!“} Right then, the police officers rushed in and tackled her, pinning her to the ground as she kicked and screamed.}}
I turned to Lance and saw the fresh cut on his wrist. Thin but deep, with blood already seeping through.
The blade had caught him.
My chest tightened.
Without even thinking, I stepped forward and turned to Caitlin.§
And I slapped her hard again and again.”
“Caitlin,” I said, my voice cold and sharp, “I don’t care how many times you come after me. If you try to do something like this again, I will destroy your entire world.”
