Chapter 8
The doors flew open, unleashing a gust of wind that sent cards spiraling through the air like confetti.]]
One struck me in the face. It was a photograph: a young couple shielding a small girl beneath them, their bodies bearing the crushing weight of concrete and steel.]]
The man’s throat was impaled by rebar, the woman’s face partially crushed, yet somehow they’d managed to create a protective pocket with their broken bodies, saving the little girl from certain death.]]
That child was Rosalie.]
My heart soared with relief.]
Willow must have discovered the truth and returned to expose Rosalie’s lies!
I was right all along–she wasn’t dead!]]
As the wind settled, Mae stepped through the doorway alone.
“Where’s Willow?” I demanded.[]
The Blakes rushed forward, grabbing Mae’s arms, frantically asking the same question.[]
The calmer we grew hysterical, the more composed she became. Finally, she released a bitter, hollow laugh that sent chills down my spine.[]
“Now you want to know where she is? Where were you a year ago when she first said she wasn’t feeling well? Oh, that’s right–you were all too busy taking your ‘real daughter‘ to Disneyland. Too preoccupied with beach vacations and buying her luxury cars with money WILLOW earned.” Her voice cracked with fury. “When Willow was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer, doctors said aggressive treatment might give her more time. But you controlled all her finances, didn’t you? Every time she asked for treatment money, you’d throw a few hundred dollars her way, terrified of upsetting precious Rosalie.“[]
She turned to me. her eyes burning with hatred. “And you, Mr. Brilliant Mastermind–you came up with that ‘fake illness‘ plan, which meant that when Willow finally told everyone she was dying, not a single person believed her. You all just smiled and said, ‘Good acting, Willow!““]
My head thundered as though I’d been struck. Every nerve ending in my body screamed with dawning horror. The terrible premonition grew stronger with each passing second.
“WHERE IS SHE?” I roared, grabbing Mae’s shoulders.
She slapped me with such force that my head snapped sideways, her rage nearly tearing me apart.]]
“I will never tell you!” she screamed, tears streaming down her face. “I came here today to tell Rosalie that her so–called abusive adoptive parents never abandoned her. They died protecting her in that earthquake! They sacrificed themselves for a child who would grow up to slander their memory!“[]
Rosalie lifted her veil, snatching up the photos. “These are all fake! You manufactured this evidence! I’m the only one who knows what really happened back then!“]]
Mae’s laughter was devoid of humor as she gestured toward the massive screen behind us.
The screen illuminated, playing intimate family footage.
Rosalie was unmistakably the little girl being doted on.[]
Unlike the still photos, the video evidence was devastating in its clarity.
Crushing remorse flooded through me for everything I’d done to Willow.[]
The Blakes lost their minds.
They screamed at Rosalie, demanding to know why she’d fabricated such monstrous lies.[]
Surrounded by wedding guests and media cameras, Rosalie slowly backed away before collapsing to the floor, covering her face as she sobbed.]
“I was terrified! I thought if I didn’t make myself sound pitiful enough, you wouldn’t love me more than Willow! I was just fighting for my happiness–is that so wrong?“]
Mrs. Blake slapped her hard, tears streaming down her face: “We would have loved you without the lies! But what did Willow do to deserve any of this? What did her parents do wrong? They DIED protecting you, and you repaid them with slander! When I think of how I spoke to my daughter because of you, I just—“[]
She broke down completely, then rushed to Mae, falling to her knees: “Please, we know we were wrong! Let us bring Willow back–we’ll find the best doctors in the world! We can still save her!”]
Rosalie frantically grabbed her mother’s arm. “Mom, don’t abandon me! Willow’s faking everything! I’m your real daughter!“]
When her mother ignored her, she turned to her father.[]
Dad, I’m your flesh and blood! Tell Mom she’s overreacting! I just told one little lie–should she really hit me over strangers who’ve been dead for twenty years?”
They Chase Blood Over Love Now They Cry at My GRAVE
61N
Chapter 8
“SHUT UP!” he roared. “Because of you, we missed our chance to care for Willow properly! If you hadn’t been so pathologically jealous, we never would have hurt her like this!”
Rosalie snapped, jumping to her feet: “She’s LYING! She’s not even sick!“]
“ENOUGH!” Mae’s voice cut through the chaos like a blade. Her face contorted with grief and rage as she pointed at Rosalie. “You know exactly how real Willow’s illness is! Before they even concocted this ‘fake illness‘ plan, you accidentally found her medical file, didn’t you? I have your search history! ‘How long can someone live with terminal lung cancer? Final symptoms before death from cancer. You know she was dying and you still took everything from her!“]]
