The Marriage That Never Existed novel Chapter 30

Chapter4

I was dizzy with hunger and thirst. “I didn’t steal.”

Andrew grabbed the silver locket from my neck.

“Chloe says it’s hers. If you didn’t steal it, then what is this?”

For the first time, anger surged through me. I clutched his hand, trying to pry the locket free.

“This is Mom’s. She left it for me. I didn’t steal anything.”

I had always kept it hidden beneath my clothes, terrified my brothers might take it away.

Andrew froze for a moment.

Carter sneered. “Mom hated you. Why would she leave you anything?”

“If Chloe says it’s hers, then it’s hers.”

Just then, Father came home. His eyes fixed on me.

“What’s going on?”

I wiped my tears and tried with all my strength to defend myself.

“I didn’t steal. I swear I didn’t.”

Chloe clung to Blake’s sleeve, sobbing.

“But I have one exactly like it. My dad left it for me.”

Father’s gaze hardened.

“You’d better tell the truth.”

“I’m not lying… it’s Mom’s. She gave it to me.”

Mrs. Baxter arrived from next door.

“Our Chloe does have a silver locket, this style, exactly.”

Everyone’s eyes turned on me.

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The same look I knew too well from the children at preschool, disgust, rejection.

Andrew’s voice was cold. “Lying children get their tongues cut out. Give it back.”

I couldn’t understand. This was my mother’s gift. How could they call it theft?

“I didn’t. I won’t give it away.”

Father’s figure loomed over me. His hand struck across my face.

“You’ve even learned to lie.”

I toppled to the ground, my arm scraping raw against the floor. Hot tears streamed down.

Through hiccupping sobs, I tried to form words.

“Daddy… you can beat me to death… but I didn’t steal…”

Father’s fist tightened at his side.

I squeezed my eyes shut, bracing for another blow, clutching the locket tight in my palm.

If he truly cared about me, he would have noticed long ago that Mom left this for me.

Instead, his voice was flat, cold.

“She likes it. Fine. My apologies, whatever the price, we’ll repay it.”

Mrs. Baxter waved her hand. “It isn’t expensive. If the child wants it, let her have it.”

Father’s tone cut like ice.

“Bring out the silver piece we bought at the Greenfield Auction two days ago.”

“Yes, sir,” came the reply.

Soon, asilver far larger and finer than mine was placed into Chloe’s hands.

Her tears dried up.

My brothers added armfuls of snacks and toys for her to take home.

Snacks and toys they never shared with me.

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My stomach growled.

They looked at me. I bolted upstairs, trembling, and locked myself in my room.

That night, Ms. Doyle called me down to dinner. But I held my aching belly, too afraid to face

them.

Time dragged on until Father’s voice echoed coldly from the dining room.

“Leave her.”

By midnight, pain wracked my entire body. I couldn’t breathe.

It felt as though I were about to die, stiff and helpless, like the little hamster at preschool that went rigid in its cage.

I pushed open my door. The lights downstairs glowed bright.

At the bottom of the stairs, Father stood with Mrs. Baxter, who was weeping.

“That pendant was her father’s keepsake. Chloe’s burning with fever now, shaken by all this. If we don’t get her to the hospital soon, it might be too late.”

“If anything happens to her… how will I ever face her late father?”

Ms. Parker once told me, when you’re sick, you go to the hospital.

If Chloe could go, maybe I could too. If I got better, maybe… maybe I could see Mom again.

My knees buckled. I nearly tumbled down the steps.

“Daddy, my stomach hurts. Everything hurts. Please take me to the hospital…”

But they thought I was lying.

Mrs. Baxter fell deeper into tears.

“Please, sir, not another minute. Chloe’s life is on the line.”

Father’s eyes burned with disgust when they met mine.

“You’re just like your deceitful mother, repulsive.”

He turned to leave.

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I stumbled after him, my belly twisting, my body feverish and weak.

“Daddy…” I clutched at his sleeve. “Let me go with Chloe to the hospital…”

“Is pretending sick supposed to be fun for you? Skipping meals, making yourself like this? Do you think it erases your mistakes?”

I sobbed so hard my body shook.

“Then will I end up like the hamster? Stiff on the floor, not moving anymore?”

Father’s rage snapped.

“Then go die somewhere I can’t see you!”

He yanked his sleeve from my grip. I fell hard to the floor, too stunned even to cry.

At the top of the stairs, my three brothers leaned against the railing, watching.

“Hurting Chloe, that’s your punishment.”

“Our family could never have a sister like you. A liar. A thief.”

Blake’s grin was bright, almost cheerful.

“Here’s a deal, if you can bring Mom back, we’ll forgive you. How about it?”

I stared at them, foolishly hopeful.

“If I bring her back… will you share snacks with me? And toys too? Will you treat me like Chloe?”

All three nodded.

“Of course. You’re our sister.”

They coaxed me downstairs, into the basement. The door slammed shut behind me.

Andrew tossed a phone at my feet.

“The first number is Mom’s. Call her. When she answers, we’ll let you

out.”

“Consider this your punishment for stealing.”

I picked up the phone, pressing the button until the screen glowed.

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Hadn’t Father already called her countless times? She never once answered.

Maybe the line was dead long ago.

Still, I called again. And again.

The screen lit and dimmed.

Until finally…

The call connected.