Sorry for Your Loss, It's Me, I'm the Loss novel Chapter 59

"Jeffrey!" Teresa shrieked, rushing to his side, tears streaming down her face.

"This is madness! Absolute madness!" George continued to rage.

Yvonne ignored them, her bright, dark eyes fixed on Jeffrey. "Last time, Queena slapped her own face and blamed it on me. You didn't even give me a chance to explain. You hit me and locked me in my room without food for a day and a night. These two slaps, Jeffrey, are for that."

A year ago, on the original Yvonne's birthday, Teresa had a rare pang of conscience and bought her clothes and jewelry. The girl had been so happy she stayed up all night, clutching her gifts. Fearing she was losing her place, Queena had slapped herself and claimed Yvonne had attacked her. The young girl, heartbroken and desperate, tried to explain, but Jeffrey refused to listen. He hit her to "avenge" Queena and then locked her in a dark room to "reflect," starving her for twenty-four hours.

The original Yvonne had been beaten and locked in dark rooms by her adoptive mother her whole life, leaving her with severe claustrophobia. But being locked up by her own family, after being beaten by the brother she had longed for, brought a despair far worse than any fear or hunger.

Jeffrey looked into Yvonne's piercing eyes, and for a fleeting moment, a flicker of guilt crossed his face. But before he could speak, George's angry voice cut through the air.

"An older brother has every right to discipline his younger sister. You spent all those years outside and picked up a host of bad habits. Your siblings are just trying to teach you for your own good. Why are you so sensitive? All you've done is bring chaos to this family. I'm warning you, if anything happens to Queena, I will make you pay."

With that, he gently lifted Queena from the floor and shouted for the driver to bring the car around to take her to the hospital. The scene devolved into chaos. Queena was just faking unconsciousness, but George was acting as if she were on her deathbed.

She was deep in concentration, memorizing her lines, when someone knocked on her door. Before she could say "come in," Jeffrey pushed the door open and entered.

"Did no one ever teach you to ask for permission before entering someone's room?" Yvonne asked, her eyes cold.

Jeffrey paused, a flicker of discomfort on his face. "I just got back from the hospital. Queena is awake. She says she regrets falsely accusing you and wanted me to apologize on her behalf."