3
The room went silent.
Chad turned red. “Lia, what the hell are you
saying?”
Dad’s face was tight. “Ashley saving them is a
big deal. Don’t screw this up!”
Mom grabbed my sleeve. “Lia, you were there
when Ashley saved them! Don’t lie!”
“If Ashley didn’t save them, who did?”
I ripped my arm away from Mom. “I’m telling
the truth. I was the one who saved you all!”
“Lia, you are nuts! You’re stealing the credit
for saving the Sterlings!”
Chad screamed.
Dad sighed. “Lia, I know you were gone for
twenty years, but we tried to make it up to
L
you when you came home. How could you do
something like this?”
“We lost Lia and she went to a rural area and
adopted some bad habits!”
“We let her eat well and dress well but she
always compares herself to Ashley, trying to
take everything for herself!”
“This is all our fault, we gave her too much
freedom and didn’t teach her and thats why
shes making such a scene today, were very
sorry for this!”
Mom said. She bowed to the guests.
Ashley looked at me. “Lia, you wanted my
necklaces, my bags… you killed my puppy! I
never said a word!”
“But I almost died when saving Jason! And I
like him! How can you steal this from me?”
Ashley started crying.
They were telling such stories with
confidence, I felt sick.
“I’ve heard about Lia! She seems disgusting!”
“You killed Ashley’s puppy? What kind of
person are you?”
“She’s here for the money, and she just wants
to be famous!”
The room exploded with whispers.
Mom looked at me. “Lia, if you want money,
we’ll give you whatever you want! Don’t steal
this from your sister. You are both our
babies!”
Mom was in tears. I looked at Jason. “Jason, I
swear, I saved you!”
I had to get through to him.
“Liar!”
Chad slapped me and kicked me to the
ground.
“You’re nothing! You’re jealous! I wish you
never came here!”
Chad yelled and kept kicking.
My leg hurt so bad, I screamed.
<
I looked up at Jason. “Jason, I said something
when I saved you. Do you remember?”
Jason stepped forward and stepped on my
leg. “Stop lying!”
“I know that Ashley saved me! You are
horrible!”
Jason’s eyes were cold. I understood now.
I laughed, with blood running down my face.
Jason said. “Why are you laughing? Nobody
believes you!”
Jason kept hurting me.
Tears streamed down my face.
A voice broke through. “Animals! What are you doing? Let go of Ms. Miller!”
