Heard It, But Too Late

Laura faltered. "Maybe I should head back first."

Betty looked displeased. "Mom, you know how close Aunt Olivia and Catherine are. She's exaggerating things. Ralph just locked Catherine in the basement. He didn't hit or yell at her. How could she be dead?"

She choked up. "Aunt Olivia likes Catherine more than Ralph and me. Are you going to follow her example?"

"Of course not. Come here, my sweet girl. Don't cry." Laura pulled her into a hug, patting her back.

Ralph waved his hand irritably. "Catherine just wouldn't stop causing trouble. Let's eat first. Don't let her ruin our mood."

His open disgust stung my heart, and I closed my eyes in pain.

Back before I got kidnapped, Ralph had liked me. When Betty and I fought over toys, he'd divide them fairly. "One for Catherine and one for Betty."

When I sneaked into his bed and begged for a story, he'd indulge me with a helpless smile. "What am I gonna do with you?"

But when I was rescued and taken back, everything had changed. He always took Betty's side and would not listen to my explanations.

Eventually, I stopped defending myself and grew quieter. But then, he complained about my gloomy personality. "You're so dark and moody. No wonder none of your classmates like you."

I had frozen in place, stunned.

When Betty said some kids were bullying her, I'd rush over without thinking to stand up for her. But turning around, she cried to the teacher. "Catherine grew up in the backwoods. She doesn't know how the world works. She didn't mean to hit anyone."

When they accused me of stealing, she'd pretend to defend me. "No way. Catherine isn't like that. Sure, she only gets 500 dollars a month for allowance, but she wouldn't steal. Our family's loaded; she doesn't need to. Though my mom lost two necklaces lately, we can't blame her every time something goes missing."

Thinking back on all that, I suddenly felt like dying wasn't so bad after all. Being framed again and again, with no one believing me, was suffocating. Every night before bed, it felt as if a mountain pressed on my chest.

At the restaurant, Betty ordered enthusiastically, considering everyone's tastes. The others watched her with pride.

Leaving the table, Ralph went outside and pulled out his phone. I floated after him and watched as he dialed my number. Only beeps came from the line. No one was answering.

"What a pain! Drives me nuts," he cursed under his breath.

Then he texted me: [What games are you playing now? You're something else—selfish, vicious, gloomy, and disgusting. Even locked in the basement, you still find ways to manipulate people. Don't you have a shred of decency?]

After the meal, they started to leave the mall. Ralph suddenly turned back, and when he returned, a gift box was in his hand. "Alright, it's almost ten. Time to head home."

Betty stared at the box, her eyes narrowing.