Suddenly, my mom shouted and startled everyone while pointing toward something in the room,
“Honey!”
‘What the hell! Did she see him? I told him not to come out until I say so!’ I didn’t react immediately, my back still facing toward the room.
“Why is there blood on your bed sweety?” My mom asked and I took a deep sigh of relief,
‘Oh, so she was talking about the blood on the bed’ I took a sigh of relief only to realize I fu**ed up.
‘F*ck! I should have changed the bedsheet before opening the door’
“Why is there so much blood on your bed? What happened to you last night?” My father asked holding my shoulder while observing me carefully.
My mom, Mark, and Oliver also came forward to check on me.
“I am fine. It’s just I injured my head with a giant tree branch. That’s it” I replied honestly pointing towards my injured head.
“Then why is there so much blood on the bed” my father asked in worry and I was shut for a moment to find a good excuse only for someone else to point out the obvious unnecessarily.
“Yeah, it is actually too much blood for a minor head injury, don’t you think?” Aunt Stella questioned only to feel burning gazes of my father and her own son, she quickly added,
“We should do a proper checkup at the hospital. That’s what I was trying to say” Aunt Stella said with an awkward look of misplaced worry.
“Yes, Stella is right. we must take her to the hospital” Uncle Levi added and my father and mother nodded in unison.
‘Look at these missing Noddies’
“Nope, I am fine. I am completely okay” I replied quickly taking a step back.
“No, you are not. Look at the amount of blood you have lost” My mother replied not giving me a room to run away.
Mark, Oliver, and Olivia were staring at my bed with wide eyes.
“I told you there was so much blood” Theo whispered in Oliver’s ears and Oliver hushed him.
“It’s all your fault” Mom slapped Mark’s arm angrily.
“It’s not only his fault even Oliver has equal part in it this time” Aunt Stella added, pretending to be angry.
“I won’t forgive you this time, Mark. It is way out of line” My father said angrily while Mark only hung his head in shame and guilt then my dad turned toward his next target,
“And Oliver, you have greatly disappointed me”
“Um, Dad, Mon, it’s not just Mark and Oliver’s fault. It’s everyone’s fault, including mine” I said, I couldn’t let them take the entire blame. I can’t let my father be angry with my brother and Oliver for the rest of his life.
He thinks that he nearly lost his precious daughter, I know he will never forgive them ever.
“Rosey, what are you saying” Oliver tried to cut in but I shushed him.
“Let me speak, Oliver. You only told them half of the truth. Let me tell them the other half” I said ready to sacrifice myself, after all it was my fault as well.
“Dad, Mom, I was being a nuisance again. I was tired of my cousin’s non-stop taunts, I just couldn’t hear so many insults in a single day. I felt like running away. Hence, I made multiple attempts to leave but failed. Mark caught my lies every single time. That’s why when I really got hit, nobody believed me. they thought I was acting again” I honestly told them what happened as I won’t be able to live with the lies.
“So, it was your fault. You acted like a stupid brat which resulted them in leaving you there alone. Who would have believed you anyway?” Aunt Melissa was quick to throw me under the bus as I was expecting one of them to do.
Didn’t she hear the first half of my statement?
“What about the fact that your children were bullying my daughter again?” My mom defended me immediately.
Go Mommy go!
“And Laina is the one who bullies her the most. Rose can’t speak a word or move a leg without Liana commenting on it” Mark came in second to defense as well.
“Yeah, that’s true” Oliver added only making the case worse for dear Aunt Melissa.
“Is this how you are bringing up your daughter to bully others so that they are forced to make excuses to leave” My mother added in anger ready to strike her at any moment.
‘Oooh! Mumma bear is really angry today’
“That’s a lie. You all are lying” Aunt Melissa pointed towards everyone.
“Theo, my son. Tell them the truth. Tell them what happened” Aunt Melissa kept her hand on her son’s shoulder and spoke gently.
Theodore looked at the bed soaked with blood and then at me, particularly at my head injury.
His eyes met mine for a fraction of a seconds and I could see the pool of guilt in them.
He looked down and replied, “They are speaking the truth, Mom. Everyone was bullying her, especially, Laina, but as Rose said everyone is responsible for this accident”
“You son of a…” Aunt Melissa raised her hand to slap him but my mother caught it.
“Enough! I won’t let you bully another child even if it’s your own kid” My mother nearly roared.
“Leave..” Aunt Melissa tried to speak but Uncle Levi cut her off.
“Yes, you must leave. You and your daughter have created enough mess for one day” my mother added fuel to the fire looking like a dragon that can actually breath fire.
“I am so sorry, Rose. We did this to you. We have hurt you in the past as well. Please forgive me. I have realized my mistake” Theo said sincerely looking like a copy of Mark hanging his head down in the guilt.
“Do you really want to be forgiven?” I asked with narrowed eyes.
“Yes” Theo replied nodding in frantic.
“You will do anything for it?” I asked in a serious tone and he nodded again.
Being with Oliver instead of his parent’s company has really changed him. I can barely recognize him.
“Tell me who locked me inside the basement last time?” I asked shocking him to his core.
Theodore’s eyes widened, clearly indicating he knew who did it.
“Um..” he gulped hard. He was stuck without a chance of escape.
“You said you will do anything for it” I reminded him.
Oohhh yeah! I hit the nail on the head.
“You knew” Oliver looked at him with utter shock.
“It was… was…” he stammered shaking in disbelief and fear.
“Say it Theo. I promise, I will protect you” My father reassured him.
“Why are you manipulating my son” Aunt Melissa said about to pull Theo out of the room when my dad blocked her way.
“Let him speak, Melissa. Rose nearly died that day” My dad interjected shushing her in instant.
“It was my sister” He replied looking down in embarrassment.
“Laina?”