Chapter 16
The night was dark and deathly silent, but the lights inside the Murphy residence still burned.
The nightgown Sylvie wore clung to her frame; it was the same one she had often used to “please” Brynn.
It was mine.
She used to wear my clothes when she played those wicked little games with him.
Sylvie’s gaze dimmed, her eyes deep and unreadable.
For the past ten years, she had worn my clothes, repeated my words, mimicked my gestures; she had long grown used to being me.
Never once did she feel ashamed, so long as she won in the end.
When she pushed open the bedroom door, a strong stench of alcohol hit her nose. The room reeked of bitter liquor and unsaid regrets.
Brynn was slumped against the headboard, his bangs messy, his shirt half unbuttoned, an empty bottle discarded on the carpet.
He was drunk, his eyes glassy and unfocused as he stared at her for what felt like an eternity.”
Then, he muttered under his breath, “Natalie…“N
Sylvie’s steps faltered. Her heart gave a sharp twist.
She forced a smile and walked closer. “Brother, don’t drink anymore…“N
But Brynn reached out and pulled her into his arms before the words had fully left her lips.
His voice was hoarse and sticky with drunken affection.
“Natalie, you finally came back…”
“Do you know how I’ve gone mad looking for you? How could you just leave me like that..”
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have hurt you. Shouldn’t have believed any of it…“N
“Natalie, let me make it up to you, please…”
As he spoke, he buried his face in the crook of her neck like a spoiled child, his breath warm and erratic, his hands sliding restlessly along her waist.
Sylvie’s body went rigid. A chill crept over her heart like a tide swallowing the shore.
“Brother…” she whispered, her voice shaking, “look closely. I’m Sylvie.”N
She thought he had merely mistaken her in his drunken haze, and a soft reminder would be enough to snap him out of it.
But the moment her words landed, Brynn recoiled as if struck by lightning.
His eyes flew open, and in the next instant, he shoved her away.N
Caught off guard, Sylvie fell to the carpet with a thud, her knee slamming hard against the sharp edge of the coffee table.N
The pain shot up her leg, making her suck in a breath, but she bit it back, not daring to utter a sound.N
Brynn stood over her, towering, fury blazing in his eyes.
The warmth from moments ago had vanished without a trace, replaced by a cold, searing glare of contempt.
“Sylvie, why are you wearing her clothes?“W
Each word sliced through the air like a knife.
“That was the last thing she left in this house.”
“And now you’ve defiled it.”
Defiled.
The word rang in her ears like thunder cracking open the sky.
Sylvie’s face went ghostly pale.
She held back her tears, bit down hard on her trembling lip, and spoke in a hushed voice. “Brother, she doesn’t want you anymore. You gave her everything, and she just walked away without a word.”
“She doesn’t love you. She never cared.“%
“But I’m different!“%
She choked on a sob !
“I’ve followed you for ten years. I’ve been by your side since the year you fell ill. I never left. I gave birth to Solomon, your first son. I would never leave you…“%
But Brynn only let out a cold, cutting laugh.
“You? What makes you think you could ever compare to Natalie?”
“You’re not even worthy of a single strand of her hair.”
“You think I haven’t seen through you? All your schemes, stealing her clothes, copying her words, mimicking her voice, you really thought that pretending to be her would let you take her place? Do you take me for a fool?“%
Sylvie stood frozen Panic flashed in her eyes, swift and uncontrollable.
“Keep dreaming’s
Brynn leaned closer, forcing each word out like shards of glass
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10:57 AM ·
“Keep dreaming.”
Brynn leaned closer, forcing each word out like shards of glass.
“If it weren’t for Solomon, do you really think I’d let you stay another day in this house?”
“And one more thing…”
“You think I don’t know how Solomon came to be?”
Sylvie’s face turned ghostly pale.
“I used protection every single time. And somehow, you still got pregnant.“W
“You think I’m too stupid to figure it out?”
Brynn looked like he had been suppressing his fury for too long, and now, finally, it had found its outlet.
