Chapter 18
Chapter 18
Rebekah looked up to see Sampson Fletcher, her adoptive older brother.
Dressed in black, his features sharp and severe, he sat down with a casual smile. He shot her a disdainful glance and frowned. “What is she doing here p>
Rebekah’s lips tightened, but she remained silent. She knew Sampson had never liked her.
Candice, however, cheerfully linked her arm through his. “It’s Dad’s birthday, of course she’s here. I was just so hungry, brother. You’re not mad at me for starting without you, are you p>
Sampson’s usually stern demeanor softened as he smiled and gave her nose a playful tap.
The sight of their easy affection sent a pang of bitterness through Rebekah. She had once admired her older brother. He was a brilliant businessman who had single-handedly built an empire and supported the Fletcher family.
She had never understood why he was always so cold to her. She had assumed it was just his nature, but after Candice arrived, he had become a different person.
She finally gave a bitter smile. Some family bonds those were, she thought. All for their precious real daughter, and none for her.
Beside her, Georgiana placed a piece of iuuu un Candice’s plate, her voice gentle. “Candice, how is your preparation for the dance competition coming along? Are you
confident p>
The word “dance” was like a tiny thorn, pricking Rebekah’s heart. She knew about the competition. It had once been her dream too. But she would never dance again.
Candice laughed, glancing at Rebekah before replying nonchalantly, “I’m almost ready, but there are a few parts I’m not sure about.” She placed a piece of fish on Rebekah’s plate with a smile. “Sis, could you give me some pointers? Even though you can’t dance anymore, you still have the technique p>
Rebekah looked down at the fish and then unceremoniously scraped it into the trash.
“I’m allergic to fish,” she said coolly.
They all knew. They just didn’t care.
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17:07
Chapter
When she was a child, she had eaten fish and broken out in a severe rash, ending up in the hospital with a high fever. At the time, Georgiana had still treated her like a real daughter, crying by her bedside all night.
But the next meal, there was fish again. Georgiana had said that a little bit of what ails you is the best cure.
Later, when Candice, who loved fish, returned to the family, fish became a staple at every meal. Rebekah hadn’t had a proper meal at the Fletcher house in years.
Her adoptive father’s face darkened, and he slammed his hand on the table. “Have we wasted all these years of education on you? If you can’t eat it, just leave it on your plate. Who do you think you are, showing such disrespect p>
Rebekah opened her mouth to defend herself, but no words came. They were so used to ignoring her, to treating her like she was invisible. When the invisible person suddenly had a voice, of course they would be angry.
*Whatever,* Rebekah thought. She would be going home in less than three months. It didn’t matter what they thought of her.
“She didn’t mean it,” Candice said with a smile, pouring Rebekah a glass of milk. “She’s probably just a little upset because I’m entering the competition and she can’t.” She flashed a bright, toothy grin, a hint of challenge in her eyes. “You’re not mad at me, are you, Sis p>
Rebekah couldn’t drink milk either.
Rebekah’s heart filled with sarcasm. “Why would I be? I won that competition the first
time I entered it p>