Chapter III

I was the first to break the awkward silence, commenting directly: "Three's a crowd. I'm out. May the bitch and the dog last forever."

After posting that sentence, I couldn't be bothered to watch the ensuing farce.

I immediately blocked Caleb and Mia from my contacts and all social media platforms.

A few minutes later, Caleb called from a different number.

"Harper Wayne, have you caused enough trouble?"

I spoke is amazing. Caleb is truly a family man."

"I will definitely clear my schedule to attend the wedding in three months."

Just as the comments section was basking in harmony, Mia suddenly replied: "Everyone has misunderstood. This isn't Sister's marital home; this is a gift Caleb gave to calmly into the receiver: "I'm not causing trouble."

Caleb roared furiously, "What was that comment you left on my Instagram? You are clearly trying to ruin Mia's reputation."

"Are you only satisfied if you paint her as a homewrecker destroying someone else's relationship?"

"If you dare slander her in public again, we can call off this wedding!"

Listening to his self-righteous accusations, my heart was like stagnant water, incapable of producing even a single ripple.

"Caleb Brown, what makes you think I would still want to pick up someone else's used trash?"

With that, I hung up.

Perhaps the word "trash" pricked his pathetic ego, because he called countless times from different numbers afterward.

When the calls didn't go through, he bombarded me with texts.

I ignored them all.

In ten days, I was going to marry Lucas.

These people were all about to become turned pages in the book of my life.

I had planned to stay out of their way for the remaining days and wait quietly to leave, but I didn't expect Mia to knock over my father's urn.

It was the blue-and-white porcelain jar my father loved most in life, and now, the grey-white ashes were scattered all over the floor.

Not only did she show no remorse, but she even let her Persian cat urinate on them.

Then she stood aside, looking at me with gloating malice.

"Sister, look! These ashes are really absorbent. They make perfect litter for my cat!"

In that moment, the string in my mind called reason snapped completely. Grief and anger, suppressed for so long, erupted like a volcano.

I grabbed the golf club by the door and swung it viciously at Mia.

She took a hit, screaming in pain, her face turning pale as she scrambled to escape.

"Harper Wayne! Are you crazy! How dare you hit your sister!"

Mother arrived at the sound of the commotion. Her appearance was like a lifeline for Mia.

Mia tremblingly hid behind Mother, peeking out with half her face.

Sobbing, she accused me: "Mom, save me, Sister wants to kill me! She's crazy!"

Mother shielded Mia like a hen protecting its chick. She pointed sternly at my nose and scolded, "In the past, when you bullied your sister, I turned a blind eye, thinking it was just childish ignorance. But using violence? You are simply unreasonable!"

She was the mother who carried me for ten months, yet she always stood firmly on the opposite side, defending an adopted daughter with whom she shared no blood.

Nothing could be more chilling than this.

Tears welling in my eyes, I pointed at the mess on the floor. "She knocked over Dad's urn! And let the cat pee on it!"

"That's Dad! My biological father! Why? Why do you indulge her in trampling on Dad's dignity like this?"

Why, when I had already retreated step by step, did they still have to destroy the last memory my father left me?

Why did my own mother hate me this much?

Seeing this, Mia immediately knelt down to perform.

"Mom, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to, I was just trying to help clean up... I'm sorry, Mom... If Sister won't forgive me, then I'd rather die!"

Mia cried as if her heart were breaking, as if she were the most wronged person in the world.

"Mia, don't do anything foolish—"

*Slap!*

Before I could refute a word, Mother's palm had already landed heavily on my face.

"Enough!"

"It's just some ashes! The man is dead; is a pile of dust more important than a living person?"

"If you dare bully Mia again, get the hell out of this house!"