“Brittany, I promise I’ll marry you,” Mark
cooed, comforting her. “I’ll make it official,
and nobody can stop me.
“Ashley, I thought you were a good person.”
He was losing patience fast. “You’re being so
cruel. This is just one last thing for Brittany.
You’re really disappointing me!”
I let out a bitter laugh. I couldn’t even begin to
describe the pain I felt.
Even knowing what was coming, hearing them
say those things again made me shake with
anger.
I was supposed to be their daughter.
I’d been lost, and only came back three years
ago.
But instead of love, I got pushed aside by
everyone.
They said me coming home stole Brittany’s
place and stole her fiancé.
I owed her.
く
But they were the ones who wanted me to
come home! Mark was the one who
proposed!
Last time, I fought it, trying to win them over.
I ended up dead, along with my kid.
I begged and pleaded, but nobody cared.
Remembering how horrible it was, I felt numb.
It wasn’t worth it.
These people never cared about me.
Family, marriage, none of it mattered as much
as their history with Brittany.
I had to die to figure that out.
I was never going to be as important as
Brittany’s bad hair day.
“Fine.”
I nodded, tears in my eyes. “I agree.”
They all stared, surprised I gave in so easily.
Last time, I threw a fit, refusing the divorce
and Mark marrying Brittany.
They all called me a monster.
I underestimated how much they loved
Brittany.
Turns out, they secretly bought a mansion
and set Brittany and Mark up there.
They were all happy as could be, while I was
alone.
If they were so in love and so devoted, I
wouldn’t get in the way.
“Might as well do it today.”
I got up and looked around the house that
was supposed to be my “dream home.”
Mom and Dad exchanged a look, suspicious.
“Ashley, if you don’t want to…”
“I do. Brittany’s been a part of your life for
years. I’ve only been back for a few. I can’t
compete.”
I smirked to myself. “You all love her. I owe
her. I know.”
“I took her place. I have to set things right.”
It cost me my life to realize that the problem
く
wasn’t who was right or wrong.
It was their biased hearts.
Mom and Dad looked away.
Mark looked guilty, but then happy.
There were those “Just Married” signs and
roses everywhere.
