Brothers Regret When They Lost Me novel Chapter 4

At that, Rosalie suddenly raised her voice. "But this is an acceptance letter from Imperial Academy. Even if you're trying to go after me, you shouldn't do it like this."

"Never mind the consequences of angering Imperial Academy—how is an ordinary person like you supposed to survive once you get in?" She sounded so sincere and passionate that she even moved herself to tears.

Rosalie sobbed, choking on her words as she continued, "Zara, if you really can't stand me, I'll leave. You can have Dad, Mom, and our brothers all for your own."

Before Zara could even get a word out about Rosalie's acting, Julian was already triggered. He immediately pulled Rosalie into a tight embrace, his worry overflowing.

Then he raised his other hand, holding his phone, and angled the screen toward Zara.

"The one the Sterling family can't accept is you," he said icily. "If anyone should leave, it's you."

On the screen were Zara's parents—Charles and Vivian Sterling.

Charles looked every inch the successful businessman in his tailored suit, exuding an unmistakable aura of authority. Vivian wore a simple yet elegant dress, her makeup flawless, the picture of a typical high-class lady.

The couple stared into the camera with icy anger, their eyes fixed on Zara as if she was enemy number one in their world.

And that was just how the Sterlings rolled—anyone who dared hurt Rosalie or made her shed a single tear instantly became the enemy of their whole family.

"Julian, don't be such a baby. Can't beat me, so you run to Mom and Dad for help?" Zara said with a smile, but there wasn't a trace of warmth in her eyes.

Her mocking tone made Julian livid. He clenched his fists, muscles taut with rage. "Zara!"

He couldn't understand what was wrong with Zara. He had called Charles on video just so he could watch Zara grovel and apologize, trying to win their parents' favor. But instead, she showed no respect to Charles and Vivian at all.

Julian thought bitterly, 'Now I see her true colors. All that meekness and flattery before—it was all an act. Now that she knew she couldn't replace Rosalie, she'd dropped the mask.

'Figures—she's just a hillbilly brat, vile and nasty.'

Charles and Vivian clearly shared the same thought.

Charles never had any real feelings for Zara, the girl they brought back from that small town. To him, Zara's arrival had shattered the peace and harmony of their perfect family.

It hadn't even been a year, and Rosalie was already dealing with drama after drama. Because of Zara, the house had been full of chaos.

If it weren't for Vivian stubbornly insisting on keeping Zara close, Charles would've sent Zara to some overseas boarding school and left her to sink or swim.

Now, hearing Rosalie's gentle, tearful pleas—saying she'd rather leave than make trouble—and seeing the blood seeping through the bandage on her wrist, Charles's disgust toward Zara only deepened.

"You ungrateful brat," he snapped. "Can't you unlearn those filthy habits from that town of yours? Do you even want to stay in this house?

"Apologize to Rosalie right now, or you'll no longer have a place in this family."

Charles spoke like the CEO he was, every word a command. It actually made Zara laugh.

She slowly lifted her eyes, cold and mocking, and stared straight into the phone screen. "You people really are a joke.

On the video screen, Charles and Vivian both looked upset because of what Zara had said, but Zara didn't want to waste her time on them anymore.

She stepped forward, and Julian instinctively shrank back. His fear of Zara was so raw he couldn't even hide it.

That small retreat made his shame burn even hotter. His face twitched, rage bubbling up, desperate to say something mean to reclaim his pride.

But Zara didn't give him a single look. Without a second thought, she reached out and grabbed the admission letter lying on the table.

"That's mine. You—" Rosalie's voice broke in panic, her expression as if Zara had just snatched something precious from her. She lunged forward to grab it back.

But Zara held the letter between two fingers, pulling her arm just out of Rosalie's reach.

She raised an eyebrow and dangled the acceptance letter teasingly. "Rosalie, if you're so sure this letter belongs to you, then why don't you contact Imperial Academy and have them send you one with your name on it?"

Before Rosalie could answer, Zara tore the letter into shreds. Tiny fragments fluttered in the air, raining down over Rosalie and Julian's heads like snowflakes.

Without sparing them a glance, Zara turned and walked out of the hospital room.

"My letter..." Rosalie lifted her gaze to the falling pieces.

The torn paper mirrored her shredded hope. She reached out to catch the pieces, her expression fragile and pitiful. Charles, Vivian, and Julian all looked ready to explode.

Even through the phone, Charles's furious voice rang out clear as thunder. "Zara, if you walk out that door, don't you ever come back. You're no longer our daughter!"